A semi-frivolous, maybe not so frivolous post

[geiger]

In your interactions with political candidates and office holders over the years, have you ever heard them talk or see anything in writing or on the news that revealed why your favorite candidate, for any time of office, got inspired to enter politics to begin with.

Or, why are you involved in politics. Why is your commitment to involvement so important to you?

[Cerridwen]

1. Your thought provoking post made me think of something...

:D

All the people I've known over the years who have become involved in politics did so to effect change. Myself included. I can't think of one who got involved to maintain the status quo.

There may be some who did so. I don't know them.

[geiger]

5. my first political act was in reaction to a cynical ploy to raise revenue

thru expensive licensing of all bicycles in the city, while it was presented to Council as a way to raise revenue, all the while claiming it would also "increase safety and the ability of the police force to retrieve and return stolen bikes to rightful owners." I was only a kid, and was really struck by how bizarre the proposal was. The I started attending Council meetings and learned about that art of opportunistic speech-making on the part of some.

[Cerridwen]

7. Licensing bicycles?

Hm, gee, I wonder who it was that would benefit from that (rhetorical question)? I'm amazed at how many pieces of legislation are passed which "protect our safety" while filling the pockets of <fill in the blank>. It muddies the debate when real safety legislation comes up.

That's a great phrase, btw, "opportunistic speech-making". So very telling.

edit: punctuation snafu

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Involvement in politics is the duty of every citizen in a democracy

You can not have "government by the people" if the people can not be bothered to get involved in government.

More personally, I get sick and tired of seeing the vast amount of graft, corruption and refusal to take even basic action towards desperately needed solutions. Unlike the large majority of my peers, I don't just sit on my ass and whine about nothing gets done: I stand up and work to do something.

[geiger]

6. In college, I worked all the time, but also knew that if Carter had not been in office,

I would not have received the level of grants and financial assistance that I did. Being the oldest of eight children, I often thought of myself as having barely, luckily, escaped the vicious cycle of poverty. Besides, for some reason, having been drawn into the leadership of a campus current events club, I quickly developed a sense of obligation to give back. I also know from first hand experience, that sometimes only the federal government has the resources to be able to offer solutions that fight ignorance, poverty and suppression.

[SteppingRazor]

3. I'm involved because I have to be.

To quote the eminantly quotable Molly Ivins, "Politics is not a picture on a wall or a television sitcom that you can decide you don't much care for."

In other words, the game continues whether or not you decide to play, but it will affect you either way. Given that setup, you'd have to be a fool not to be involved. Because when the pigs lean on you, you'd have no one to blame but yourself.

[geiger]

4. and even people who aren't involved are making a political act

not a good one, but I often wonder what state of denial does one have to be in and how does a person get to that point, where they deliberately turn off and tune out, make a point not to vote....

[SheilaT]

8. For me it was a speech

by Howard Dean in early 2003. I was very impressed by what I saw, started paying attention to his campaign, starting working for it, attended several events where I met him. Around the time Kerry became the nominee I was asked by the Democratic Party to run for the Kansas State House (in 2004). I lost to a popular, moderate, incumbent Republican. But in 2006 the right-wing candidate beat the moderate in the primary, and the man I persuaded to run for this seat won. By two votes, but he won.

[geiger]

9. One of the best political speeches I ever heard was by Marcy Kaptur

of Ohio, and it was about local economic development and how to take the goods and services of local entreprenuers and artisans and craftspeople to the state, the national and the international level. It was absolutely brilliant, and when I asked for a copy of the speech later, I learned that it was totally extemporaneous. That was a person speaking from her knowledge and her heart.

[SheilaT]

10. Totally extemporaneous!

Wow. Was there any recording of it?

For me the most amazing political speech ever was the one Ted Kennedy gave at the Democratic National Convention in 1980. Here's a link:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm

Reading the speech again makes me want to weep. It could be said today with practically no changes and would still be true.

[geiger]

11. I remember that.

Another one of my favorite speeches ever was one that Paul Begala gave one year during a gathering of a Democratic Party leadership group in Washington, and I tried thru CSPAN and his office to get a copy of the speech, to no avail.

Again, it was of philosophical and pragmatic effect.

[JNelson6563]

12. Wow! Impressive!

Thank you for being willing to run and then going on to recruit a viable candidate! A belated Congratulations on that win.

I enjoy reading these about such things. Thank you posting that and for all you do.

Julie

[SheilaT]

13. Thank you.

I know that the man who won last year is a much better legislator than I would have been. I'm much too prickly, not as good at compromise, far too judgmental to play well in the political arena. There is no sense of regret on my part that I didn't run and win this time. But I did set the stage for him to win, and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

[JNelson6563]

15. It's the pioneers we owe so much to

You played the role of pioneer. Thanks for blazing that trail. I hope someone here at DU is inspired by your experience.

:toast:

Julie

[blm]

14. Started out in 72 with Kucinich as a schoolgirl - that's how I became an anti-corruption Democrat.

Understanding what was going on in IranContra, BCCI, illegal wars in Central America, Iraqgate and CIA drugrunning made me an anti-corruption, open government Democrat.

True citizenship means participating in this nation's decisions. I am inspired by those lawmakers who RESPECT voters as CITIZENS and choose to give them the real information they need to make the best decisions they can.