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Shelly
She's 7!!!
Member since 8/05 14624 total posts
Name:
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Has anyone considered running for political office
I see all these posts about how disgusted people are by the current political climate, etc.. Especially when reading the post about people who don't vote, it got me thinking.
Has anyone considered running for office- I mean in a local election.
If you don't like the way things are DO something! Run for office!! Make a difference. Protest for political reform.
It just irks me when people complain about something, and do nothing to fix it.
ETA: I completely believe that voting is doing something. I wrote this after reading about how many people don't vote because they don't like the process or the candidates, etc... but don't vote or take any other action.
Message edited 10/3/2008 3:29:13 PM.
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Posted 10/3/08 12:00 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Elbee
Zanzibar
Member since 5/05 10767 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
DH and I haven't thought about running but we are locally involvedin our community ... we are currently involved in campainging for a local candidate and involved in our community (town hall meetings, letters to senators, asseblyman, city counsil member, etc...).
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:03 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
not really.
but it is why I plan on working for and moving up in the govt for a long time.
I hate feeling powerless...even in my lowly position here  , I have the power to help.
I Personally have worked on fraud cases that have saved MILLIONS in tax payer dollars...that makes me feel good about myself and happy to serve.
honestly, I am going back to school in January to pursue an MA in Foreign Affairs.
my most lofty goal in life would be to be tapped to become Secretary of State...watch out Condi! 
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:06 PM |
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neenie
Member since 5/05 22351 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by Shelly
It just irks me when people complain about something, and do nothing to fix it.
I agree with this statement, and also hate when people go on and on about how bad things are but then fail to do anything, BUT... i also think that by voting- by educating themselves on the candidates and the issues- people ARE doing their part and "doing something."
My mom ran for office a few years ago- the amount of time and money required was ridiculous- and she was poor to start with. It takes such a toll on you. With the economy being the way that it is, i don't think that that's necessarily the answer. People are working 2 jobs, raising families, etc... running for office isn't an option for most people, but that doesn't mean that they're not doing what they can with what they have.
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:09 PM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by Ophelia
not really.
but it is why I plan on working for and moving up in the govt for a long time.
I hate feeling powerless...even in my lowly position here , I have the power to help.
I Personally have worked on fraud cases that have saved MILLIONS in tax payer dollars...that makes me feel good about myself and happy to serve.
honestly, I am going back to school in January to pursue an MA in Foreign Affairs.
my most lofty goal in life would be to be tapped to become Secretary of State...watch out Condi!
I think that sounds like a great plan. I always semi joke about moving up here and becoming comissioner. . . either way I want to have my ideas for SS reform heard and I hope that I am able to move up and do so!
Honestly, today I think that if you were ever a stupid teenager or a crazy college kid - with the internet and youtube - it is almost impossible to run for anything without having your past exposed and I think that some people are just not willing to do that! Even people who would be great for the job.
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:13 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by Shelly
It just irks me when people complain about something, and do nothing to fix it.
It irks me, too, but running for political office isn't the only way to change things.
To answer your question, I have considered running in the future... but it's an enormous decision whether or not I want to get into politics. I may pursue a judgeship at some point - but in the more distant future. I may be well-educated and well-informed on many issues, but I know I currently lack the experience necessary to be the most effective leader I could be. ETA - I'm also not yet sure whether it will be the right move for me... but I have several years to think about that. 
Message edited 10/3/2008 12:20:02 PM.
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:16 PM |
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Shelly
She's 7!!!
Member since 8/05 14624 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by neenie
I agree with this statement, and also hate when people go on and on about how bad things are but then fail to do anything, BUT... i also think that by voting- by educating themselves on the candidates and the issues- people ARE doing their part and "doing something."
Posted by Kara
It irks me, too, but running for political office isn't the only way to change things.
I completely agree! But after reading how people don't even vote, how do people expect to change anything if they don't run themselves or do something?
I believe that voting is such an important thing (and my candidate lost the last two elections). I vote in EVERY election, local or presidential, primary or main. And now, I bring my daughter EVERY TIME (she's 2). I just don't' understand how someone can just not vote.
It may be corny, but this was my HS yearbook quote, and I still believe it:
You can't change the world, but you can change the facts.
When you change the facts, you change points of view.
When you cange points of view, you can change a vote.
And when you change a vote, you can change the world.
-Depeche Mode
Message edited 10/3/2008 12:23:21 PM.
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| Posted 10/3/08 12:22 PM |
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SPECIALNEEDSMOMMY
A Healing for Gregory
Member since 1/07 1217 total posts
Name:
Barbara
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
I worked for an Energy Coalition for many years. During that time, I was approached about an Assembly run. I thought about it.
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:14 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
people wanted my Dad to run back in the 80's - for state assembly
I am kind of glad he didn't
my Uncle was mayor of his town- and people play dirty on LI - I will leave it at that
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:21 PM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
My dad ran for and became mayor of his town for 2 years in NJ. He was also on their township committee for 4 years. I saw just how much hard work it was for him to do in addition to his full time job.
He would tell me about all the crazies that would come out of the woodwork and all the ridiculous things they would complain about:
On their street they had a pipe burst one day. The town came and worked through the night to fix it, dug up the road, fixed the pipe and re-paved the street.
His neighbor had the nerve the next day to complain to him that the street was DIRTY!!!! And wanted to know what the town was going to do to clean it up!  We are not talking about leaving garbage and piles of dirt all over. He was complaining because there was a little dirt spread out over where they worked... flat as can be... you could still see the pavement through the dusting of dirt.
Sometimes I wonder about people!
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:23 PM |
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NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul
Member since 5/05 11122 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
My brother did last year some of you would remember he was running for Suffolk County Legislator position
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:29 PM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
I have not--it's really not for me for a number of reasons.
There are other ways to get involved in changing the way things are without running for political office IMO, and I participate in some efforts when I can. Also, our freedom to kvetch is a hard won freedom, one unavailable to many people.
With all due respect, not meaning to cirticize your post, I don't think everyone who is unahppy with the status quo can or should run for political office. But as I said, there are other ways to make our community better.
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:33 PM |
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Luv2bAmom
LIF Adult
Member since 2/08 1255 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by Shelly
It just irks me when people complain about something, and do nothing to fix it.
I don't agree, I think that by excercising your right ot vote youar edoing something about it.
Now if you don't even vote, well then I say you have NO right to complain.
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:37 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Yes I have actually.
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:41 PM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
You could be a community organizer. Despite the attitude some have towards this sort of work, it's valuable work. I've done this before (on a volunteer basis), and I really enjoyed it. You get a sense that you are dealing directly with a distinct problem faced within your community, and you see some results.
As others have noted voting is a good way of changing things as well, and such an easy way really. Don't know why more people don't do it.
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| Posted 10/3/08 1:41 PM |
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Shelly
She's 7!!!
Member since 8/05 14624 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has anyone considered running for political office
Posted by Luv2bAmom
Posted by Shelly
It just irks me when people complain about something, and do nothing to fix it.
I don't agree, I think that by excercising your right ot vote youar edoing something about it.
Now if you don't even vote, well then I say you have NO right to complain.
I agree! I think voting is a very powerful step. I started writing this after reading the thread about people not voting.
Message edited 10/3/2008 3:27:51 PM.
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| Posted 10/3/08 3:27 PM |
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