Has anyone here seriously considered running for elected office?
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
December 18, 2009 2:34pm CST
I'm asking largely out of curiosity. I know that the vast majority of us, roughly 81%, are not happy with congress. Have any of you thought you could do a better job?
I'll actually be moving soon and I'm considering running for a position either in the state congress or state senate. I might even look at the US Congress position, although that guy is pretty deeply entrenched and nobody who's run against him the last 9 times has gotten more than 25% of the vote. I've checked out the guys holding the state offices and both routinely run unopposed so they're not used to any challenges. I feel like a lot of these morons need someone who can teach them to write a bill that actually benefits the people, not one that earmarks money for their wife's employer, or bribes people who fund their campaign.
I honestly don't believe ANY bill should EVER be 2000 pages long. There is just no excuse for it and most of us know the real purpose is to hide the bribes on page 1,364.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
18 Dec 09
i was seriously contemplating it for next year, but there are a few issues that would hamper a serious run right now and circumstances aren't really condisive for me right now. I would LOVE to though, I was thinkng as a sate rep too. I think if you are going to do anything you shoud start there, egt yer feet wet. Besides, I have been saying all along if we are at all serious about changing this country and taking it back, we absolutely must regain control of our states and take control of the federal government through our states. A naitonal populist movement, though still very needed, we have to use our states to reign things in, they are our best weapons.
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@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
18 Dec 09
I know in your state you'd have to be pretty financially set. Your state legislators get something like $400 a year so it's really a volunteer job for the most part. Here in FL state senators get 42K and state reps get 39K so it's a pretty fair income. In NJ where I'm going I think it's more like 66K.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
18 Dec 09
yeh, its the last citizen legislature left in the country (a model I think congress should be on), but it is relatively easy to run a campaign and get on the ballot. Especialy up in the northern rural districts where I live. Our reps don't even have offices in the capitol, maybe a drawer in a committe room if they're lucky, lol.
2 people like this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
18 Dec 09
No one would vote for a 20 year old for office. Especially not one with my views.
That - and I'm not so good at expressing my views vocally. I always end up stuttering or my mind goes blank, so I wouldn't be all too good at holding my ground against any opposition. Besides, I'd have to seriously brush up on my economics before I felt fit enough to even seriously consider running for any position.
If I could get over the whole public speech shyness, I might consider getting involved in local politics - but not in Waco. I wouldn't want to touch Waco politics with a 10-foot pole. This city is just too retarded.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Absolutely, I've thought I could do a better job! One thing you and I agree on is that no bill should ever be 2000 pages long and I've been saying this forever!
Seriously, I have thought about it and I've often thought about how I could bring some common sense to government, something which is sorely missing and knows no party bounds. Unfortunately, it's too hard and costs too much money - which I don't have - to take on the political machines even at the local and county level.
I'm really curious as to where it is you're moving. I know in my area we have some politicians who haven't had any opposition for years!
Annie
@Barry331 (65)
•
18 Dec 09
I plan on making my run for Dog Catcher within the next four years-Im reaching out to every one of you:
Its time for CHANGE....not MANGE!!!
A comprehensive stimulus flea-dip program will be enacted...
I plan on providing golden hydrants and platinum collars...all your problems will be solved..I will cure cancer and grant Immortality to the masses...
Oh,sounds far-fetched does It?
I will say It:The Emperor Has No Clothes,Folks!!!
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Dec 09
Being a politician has never occurred to me. Although there is a vast difference between school politics and real politics, even running for student council during my highschool days was nothing but a tongue-in-cheek decision. Just for fun, I guess. And I lost. I didn't have to put my sincerity and qualifications to an argument.
My father recently sought out our (his children) opinion on his political ambitions to run for what we call here Barangay Captain. It's a very small position, more like governing a local unit...pardon my politically idiotic terms.
I think most of us disagreed to it. Politics, no matter how great or small, in our country is dirty, and even people who have the best intentions at the beginning lost those ideals in the process. You turn into the traditional politician after all.
I would rather hope my father discern on being a lay minister or something. At least he serves God directly now, would he?
My father recently sought out our (his children) opinion on his political ambitions to run for what we call here Barangay Captain. It's a very small position, more like governing a local unit...pardon my politically idiotic terms.
I think most of us disagreed to it. Politics, no matter how great or small, in our country is dirty, and even people who have the best intentions at the beginning lost those ideals in the process. You turn into the traditional politician after all.
I would rather hope my father discern on being a lay minister or something. At least he serves God directly now, would he? 
@scottcoleson (578)
• Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
19 Dec 09
I have considered running for the US House of Representatives before, but I wouldn't want to do it without holding some smaller office first. I seriously considered running for my city's mayor a few months ago, but there really wasn't that much time given to file as a candidate once it was announced that the current mayor was retiring (he had run unopposed for the past few times). I would like to run for either Mayor or State Representative soon to get some legislative experience and then possibly run for US Representative or Governor. I know that this country needs some new politicians in office because there is so much corruption in all parties and so many people looking out for themselves instead of the people they are elected to represent.
1 person likes this
