Could you ever make it as a politician or a statesman?

I think so; I'd have to work on being more of a Magnificent Bastard to succeed, but I think with enough time I could learn to make it.

It's funny to see how little faith Americans have in politicians.

edited 23rd Sep '11 8:13:24 PM by Erock

I'm Canadian, and I still have little faith in politicians. I do enjoy watching their clever little gambits, though, as long as it doesn't personally screw me over.

Canadian politicians don't really gambit, it's sort of boring.

They all do, actually; you just have to sort of read between the lines a bit. I'll admit, Canadian politics tend to bore me; there's nothing that big really at stake here.

edited 23rd Sep '11 8:23:24 PM by tropetown

I doubt it; not charismatic enough to be a member of parliament, and it's probably a very stressful job, anyway.

I don't think any of the big parties would accept me, anyway. My views don't align all that closely with them.

It's because we don't have anyone really charismatic or funny or interesting.

That's why I plan to spice things up.

edited 23rd Sep '11 8:28:08 PM by Erock

Do it. I'll try to take over a more interesting country.

@Savage; I doubt you could even get a city council position with your politics. You're far too niche. Anarcho-syndacalism is kind of an oxymoron to going for political office.

As for me; Uh, doing any of that requires ambition. Which I don't have much of, honestly. And my stance is pretty much "What people do in private is no one else's business, so stay the fuck out of it, fundies" and "I think gun and drug control are actually pretty good things for us". So I guess I'm a little like Barkey in regards to policy. Also, far too lazy. Though given the shenanigans that go on in Texas, I might be able to run on that. Kinky Friedman did.

I plan to be a Chretien style centrit, and piss a lot of people off.

Chretien was a boss. You might have to pick a different party, though... the Liberals haven't been doing too hot lately.

I wouldn't be that sure: If I ran for office, I'd tone down the rhetoric (and keep the agenda). If I ran on a place that was an union stronghold, my always side with the union policy might make me quite electable. It doesn't get more pro-union than I want to help you guys outright take over, does it?

Young people pissed off at the War On Drugs would probably swing in my favor. Urban black folks might like someone who deliberately tried to make cops miserable.

Picking the right constituency, it might be feasible.

edited 23rd Sep '11 8:44:20 PM by SavageHeathen

You might actually have a chance; you'd just have to wait for a time where the US was in some sort of political upheaval to push your agenda forward. As it is right now, you wouldn't get too far.

I'm more of an administrator.

Savage@I would do everything in my power to make sure you don't get into politics because they are already crazy as it is.

Urban black folks are among the least likely to vote. (Which makes me sad, actually, since disenfranchisement just damages the whole system.) They're also the demographic that's highly likely to contain convicted felons who can't vote anymore. In any case, you'd still have to contend with the people who actually like/respect/feel that they need the police, the police themselves (as they are voters and for the most part are trying to make their homes safe, and some belong to the same urban black folk demographic, which case you're even more spitting in their faces.)

True. Of course, there are ways and means to galvanize that demographic:

Let's assume that a particular candidate makes the promise (and his pro-weed record indicates he'll actually go through) to push hard for a bill granting amnesty to those convicted of non-violent drug crimes. Such a bill would essentially restore the bloc of black voters to its deserved strength. It'd be on the self-interest of black leaders to push for his election.

edited 23rd Sep '11 8:59:18 PM by SavageHeathen

@trope: In 3o years I should have time to rebuild the Liberals anyways.

And I'm not jsut going to "pick anothe party". I don't agree with the NDP or Conservativ4s, I'm Liberal no matter what.

edited 23rd Sep '11 9:04:03 PM by Erock

Easier said than done. You'll have to contend with Stephen Harper, and he's Prime Minister for a reason. I hope you do it, though; if Canadian politics start to heat up, who knows, I might even join the fray.

It might be in their self interest, but they would have to weigh such a thing against their own careers and other goals. Basically, is it worth to vote for you if it damages their own career significantly? (Assuming they're also politicians, can vote, and a host of other things I'm probably not aware of.) Basically, is it worth it to vote for a single issue wonk type thing? This includes whether or not they think it would actually get passed. And encourage those guys to go vote. (As actually getting folks to vote who can is the hardest part.)

And.... would this get pushed through on the state or federal level? California might pass it for pot, but the harder drugs are a harder sell. Pardon the pun if that was one. (Just so you know, I don't really care of pot of all things gets legalized. It's harder drugs I'm concerned about and largely against.)

And see, all this stuff is why I would run on "I'm not going to do anything!" Because now there's no way I could make things worse than they already are. Well, I'd push education reform, but that would be about it. I'm... kind of concerned about our education system.

edited 23rd Sep '11 9:04:37 PM by AceofSpades

Sorry, I meant 30.

I'm 16 and don't know French yet. Federal politics are still a long ways away.

edited 23rd Sep '11 9:07:19 PM by Erock

I dunno... basing a campaign on apathy seems like it's going to fail. People like politicians who get them fired up and emotional, not just those who won't screw anything up.

I hoped you did. Three years might be a long time, but it'd take quite a bit longer than that to fix the Liberal Party. What they need, right now, is another Trudeau; someone charismatic enough to be a rallying point for all of those who wouldn't mind seeing the Liberal Party in power.

edited 23rd Sep '11 9:09:01 PM by tropetown

My campaign is "I listen to reason. Oh, and blow up shit."

The next Trudaeu? Exactly what I'm going for.

You know, I'm not entirely joking. I would consider federal politics if I could get in and learn French.

There's always mayor of Toronto.

edited 23rd Sep '11 9:10:41 PM by Erock

I'd vote for you, Tomu! And then be angry when the promised explosions didn't happen.