When did you ultimately become interested in politics? And...

[Mitch]

How did you learn what you know?

[saysmydoctor]

It was epiphany at the beginning of 2007. Then I just bought books. I already knew a bit growing up in an environment so directly affected...but the books helped play catch up. And I already had my own views.

[TK]

I know so little about politics, I am trying to get into it now

[Nevuk]

First become interested? I couldn't really say, it was more a gradual process which probably culminated when I read Bakunin's God and the State. It was probably based on what I read, honestly.
In 2004 I was surrounded by a great deal of debate, I frankly didn't care and thought both candidates were horrible, but the outright seal of approval Bush got from my church was disgusting (remember, vote for Bush, its what God would want you to do). However, at the same time I was forced to go to this church so I didn't really say anything to anyone, nor could any of my "friends" there have voted(Let it be said only one of these people still remains in contact with me after I revealed my current political stances). Anyways, that was where I formed the interest, but being raised in a conservative, traditional Christian household made it somewhat difficult to come across much on my own. My only real political information from the next few years came from infrequent discussions with my dad, who while an auditing accountant I've heard referred to as "King hippie" by his brother. And his reason for auditing was as a method for punishing unethical people in the most effective way possible. So I've seen pretty much every extreme in political circles.

Eventually a teacher had me read Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and it sort of started me across the path of reading philosophical texts. Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Metaphysics both made a significant impression on me (the latter far more than the former), and from there I wound up reading LeVay's Satanic Bible. It is a surprisingly political document, and was my first exposure to Randian-style concepts. I gradually came to despise these, but even at the time I kind of ignored them and rather found more importance from other parts of it, ie the praising of the eye for an eye over the golden rule of jesus. Around this same time I was getting into classical Hardcore punk/emo (yay for Minor Threat), and that definitely furthered me in a um... leftist direction. A month or so after the satanic bible, I wound up stumbling across Bakunin's God and the State, and spent the next while or so looking through obscure anarchical texts, like Nettlau (who is the only one I can remember at the moment, but there is a ton of varying quality stuff on the web...). Since I've read some lecture notes of Foucault, Rorty, Engel, more Bakunin, Goldman, a few chapters each of Kant, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Augustine, etc. While my stance on certain issues has changed, my overall stance as a societal anarchist has been the same for around 2 years, and I've held most of the attitudes for far longer. I think around the middle of Kant I decided I hated philosophy, so I've pretty much been avoiding it for the past few months. It only took one philosophy class to make me decide I was better off doing self study. I think I just typed up a long history of my political and philosophical stances. I was immensely bored, in my defense. As far as Non-political philosophy goes, I think Outlines of Pyrrhonean Skepticism by Pyyrho was the last one I've read to really strike something with me.

[Mitch]

It was epiphany at the beginning of 2007. Then I just bought books. I already knew a bit growing up in an environment so directly affected...but the books helped play catch up. And I already had my own views.

What books would you consider key?

[Mitch]

First become interested? I couldn't really say, it was more a gradual process which probably culminated when I read Bakunin's God and the State. It was probably based on what I read, honestly.
In 2004 I was surrounded by a great deal of debate, I frankly didn't care and thought both candidates were horrible, but the outright seal of approval Bush got from my church was disgusting (remember, vote for Bush, its what God would want you to do). However, at the same time I was forced to go to this church so I didn't really say anything to anyone, nor could any of my "friends" there have voted(Let it be said only one of these people still remains in contact with me after I revealed my current political stances). Anyways, that was where I formed the interest, but being raised in a conservative, traditional Christian household made it somewhat difficult to come across much on my own. My only real political information from the next few years came from infrequent discussions with my dad, who while an auditing accountant I've heard referred to as "King hippie" by his brother. And his reason for auditing was as a method for punishing unethical people in the most effective way possible. So I've seen pretty much every extreme in political circles.

Eventually a teacher had me read Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and it sort of started me across the path of reading philosophical texts. Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Metaphysics both made a significant impression on me (the latter far more than the former), and from there I wound up reading LeVay's Satanic Bible. It is a surprisingly political document, and was my first exposure to Randian-style concepts. I gradually came to despise these, but even at the time I kind of ignored them and rather found more importance from other parts of it, ie the praising of the eye for an eye over the golden rule of jesus. Around this same time I was getting into classical Hardcore punk/emo (yay for Minor Threat), and that definitely furthered me in a um... leftist direction. A month or so after the satanic bible, I wound up stumbling across Bakunin's God and the State, and spent the next while or so looking through obscure anarchical texts, like Nettlau (who is the only one I can remember at the moment, but there is a ton of varying quality stuff on the web...). Since I've read some lecture notes of Foucault, Rorty, Engel, more Bakunin, Goldman, a few chapters each of Kant, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Augustine, etc. While my stance on certain issues has changed, my overall stance as a societal anarchist has been the same for around 2 years, and I've held most of the attitudes for far longer. I think around the middle of Kant I decided I hated philosophy, so I've pretty much been avoiding it for the past few months. It only took one philosophy class to make me decide I was better off doing self study. I think I just typed up a long history of my political and philosophical stances. I was immensely bored, in my defense. As far as Non-political philosophy goes, I think Outlines of Pyrrhonean Skepticism by Pyyrho was the last one I've read to really strike something with me.

Hm, very interesting.

[saysmydoctor]

What books would you consider key?
George Orwell made me think as a teenager, say around 16. 1984 and his essays really opened my eyes. I grew up in a conservative home so my ideas aren't even truly appreciated or regarded as intelligent, so debate with my parents was impossible. All the President's Men is vital. Carl Bernstein got me to look at current events differently. Coming to these forums, I had to learn how to argue logically (or God forbid, togepi would come and slay me), so I studied up on fallacy and that also opened my mind. I read a lot of middle eastern affairs and college textbooks that really detail the Soviet Union. Read a little Rosseau. I read the Book of Revelations occassionally for political reasons (it's basically calling out the Romans). Harry Potter is a civil rights discussion. You just read and relate. Also, Canterbury Tales is another. I also read tons of current events books.

[Nevuk]

George Orwell made me think as a teenager, say around 16. 1984 and his essays really opened my eyes. I grew up in a conservative home so my ideas aren't even truly appreciated or regarded as intelligent, so debate with my parents was impossible. All the President's Men is vital. Carl Bernstein got me to look at current events differently. Coming to these forums, I had to learn how to argue logically (or God forbid, togepi would come and slay me), so I studied up on fallacy and that also opened my mind. I read a lot of middle eastern affairs and college textbooks that really detail the Soviet Union. Read a little Rosseau. I read the Book of Revelations occassionally for political reasons (it's basically calling out the Romans). Harry Potter is a civil rights discussion. You just read and relate. Also, Canterbury Tales is another. I also read tons of current events books.
All of these books would be good starting places for someone around our age. (Ok, I can't really see Harry Potter being that, but the case could be made). Orwell was awesome, his essay on the Politics of the English language should be required for anyone who even thinks of writing or attempting to employ rhetoric (ie argue).

[saysmydoctor]

Agreed.

[Nevuk]

In fact, that essay is available in a lot of places online. So here it is :
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm

[GiggsOho]

I have always been somewhat educated on the matter (my parents were both educators, they wouldn't have it any other way), but things got ratcheted up a notch when i moved to D.C. I know am trying to read anything I can get my hands on concerning modern politics, not so much theory. I don't think I will ever be that big of a nerd.

[open mind]

i started becoming interested in politics in the latter part of middle school. i don't read political books or pay much attention to the media. i do read history, and am interested in science but i mostly you know.........just think about stuff in a rational way, and then check if my thoughts have factual backing.

[asmolitor]

i've always been somewhat of an american history nerd - my dad's a huge civil war memorabilia collector. the history appreciation was passed down to me pretty quick - if i remember right, i could name every single president, in order, by age 4 or 5. but aside from general history knowledge and interest, politics didn't become a huge concern of mine until high school. my hometown is referred to as "the bible belt of southern wisconsin" and even while being a confirmed catholic, i saw right through the trap of merging politics with the former.

election 2004 hit my high school pretty big. we had a mock election in which bush won with like 75% of the vote - most of the debate within the school rested on those "fuckin lib ******s." now, even though i did vote for bush in the real election, it wasn't due to ignorance or misinformation. the tax cuts seemed to be helping the community around me, the war didn't seem as hopeless, and the economy seemed to have no correction in sight. i use "seem" since all of those points post-2004, well, have been proven quite moot - but alas, i had no crystal ball, and again, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

but politics became a huge interest for me in college... it's hard not to take notice of current events on a large college campus. it took a while to get used to the routine of someone protesting something every single day, especially when there's even protesters protesting the protesters at times. but unlike a lot of people around me, i tend to see through most of the rhetoric (bush vote notwithstanding, sigh). my political interest is generally defined as loving to point out the hypocrises and irony from both sides of the aisle, as well as from people on either side. (case in point: i worked in a printing factory after my freshman year of college, and the tv in the breakroom was run thru the vcr (kept in a locked cabinet) so if the tv was on - it was always programmed to fox news. layer two of that anecdote is that we had a very, very large hispanic immigrant population of employees. and fox news loved to bring up that fence idea every hour or so. and regardless, that certain population ate it up, not realizing that their entertainment was essentially trying to marginalize them.)

in my later college years, while taking more economics classes (my major) the interest in politics grew, as the two normally go hand in hand. and actually, i've learned a lot more in this forum in terms of politics than i did in the courses i took here. and having to prove points using hard, factual evidence is a great way to learn and keep up with the world. would i know offhand about the correlation between gold and oil prices? i'd have a general idea, but no specifics. just the slightest bit of research in making valid points in this forum made me learn a ridiculous amount of information. and at the moment, is my sole utilization of my major.

/novel

[Machu505]

I grew up in a very liberal household, and politics had always been discussed openly in there. I can barely remember a day in my memory when my dad didn't say something anti-Bush.

[Mercy Medical]

I honestly haven't really cared much about politics until the last year or so. I could have voted during the Kerry/Bush election, but I really didn't care whatsoever. I was never really that interested or felt all that close to any issues until I came out and since then I've felt like I've wanted to make more of an impact or be more involved because it's a hot topic that hits really close to home.

[FadedFocus]

in 2000, when it became apparent that even when you win (Gore), you still lose if you don't have the right connections (Bush and his dad's Supreme Court buddies).

[theliftedlorax8]

So - my first year of college was '04-'05 - we were all voting in our first Presidential election, and it suddenly occurred to me how little I knew about what was going on in the world. I knew I was going to vote for a Democrat, but I didn't know any more than that, and it freaked me out a little. I did a lot of little things at first - changed my homepage to cnn.com, and started picking up the New York Times every day (they were free on campus).

I was an American Studies major, so I also picked up a lot of information through classes - reading A People's History of the United States, Democracy in America, etc.

[oldwirehands]

I erased everything I was previously taught and started over. Reading books, newspapers, magazines, watching documentaries, talking to people, ect.

[saysmydoctor]

Same, because my parents had tried instill in me a conservative belief and it just didn't click. So I had to erase the anti-liberal ideology and teach myself.

I've always had a good hold on history (so well, I've managed to take Advanced Social Studies classes my entire high school career).

[captainhampton]

whoa, you took advanced Social Studies classes!!!!?

[saysmydoctor]

Oh, you finally came back to Politics forum to demonstrate your inability to capitalize and properly punctuate? Cool.

[Mitch]

Has anybody read any fairly easy to understand books about the whole Israel-Palestine issue that aren't influenced by the pro-Israel stance there is here in America?

[AP_Punk]

Has anybody read any fairly easy to understand books about the whole Israel-Palestine issue that aren't influenced by the pro-Israel stance there is here in America?

this is a spoken word CD that i've been meaning to buy for a while. :shrug:

http://www.akpress.org/2004/items/issueofjustice

[Post-me]

I became interested during the 2002 french presidential race. I was seeing a lot of interviews and stuff about it on tv and saw a lot of issues with one far right dude and another far left-communist dude and that got me interested. My parents are mostly apolitical but my stepfather is always bitching about everything and still vote quite right and talk like a (far) right populist( haaa switzerland...).
Since then I read a lot of things, political and historical, on the web and some books and I'm now what here we call Extreme left, tough I don't like the term and define myself as a leftist who do not like the system we're living in.(or anarcho-communist)

[EasySkankin]

It's gonna sound trite and lame, but after 9/11 2001, with all the media coverage and all the hype, I started just noticing things. I was only 11, and "3,000 killed" seemed like just a number to me, and my parents knew a couple of people who were killed, so as I grew older and realized the magnitude of what a human life is, I was compelled to find out why someone would want to kill 3,000 of them.

Luckily, my sister is a middle eastern studies major and can read and speak arabic, so she filled me in on the basics. Then I got really hooked to political writings, and started reading and re-reading (for comprehension... I was still young) basic required college reading like "The Prince", Plato's "Republic" (Which I still haven't completely finished), Locke's second treatise, just about everything Thomas Paine has written, Siddhartha is still a book I find fascinating to read over again, and after I established myself a decent base of political knowledge, I realized that much more important than people's opinion and interpretation of history is history itself, and by then I was taking AP history courses, and I would ask my teachers for as much material as possible, which I still find to be the best source.

And there's always the internet :-)

Household wise, both my parents are somewhat political, but they are kind of unsympathetic towards americans and american values, and sort of take pride in the history of political conflict and diversity of their home country Bolivia, which I suppose is how I was introduced to Marx and co.

[Jesse00]

I didn't get into politics until my sophmore year in high school. I went to private school, the only minority in my grade. Everyone either didn't care for politics, or took on the Limbaugh-esque attitudes and ideologies of their fathers. Then, gradually, I started learning about politics and everything from a number of sources. I took an AP US History class in high school, and that's were I really discovered my true beliefs were. We would hold little debates, and I found myself taking the left side more and more. It was only me and one other kid against an entire class. And we usually held up pretty well, especially when our teacher chimed in, usually supporting us. Right now, one of my best friends is a neo-con. He was raised on a steady diet of Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, boy scouts, and alter-serving at church. I didn't realize how wrong conservatism was for me til I met him.

[bohemia]

When I finally realised how corrupt the government is. Then I studied American Studies at uni and was mortified by its foreign policy (well all the different ones according to who was president) and the actual way voting is done in the USA. It is very interesting though. And I know I have only learnt about the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to read on politics, so many views and opinions.

I find it really sad that most young people in England vote Conservative as well. Most of the politics students at uni vote tory. I just don't get it. I. e. Boris Johnson as London mayor...........what. He's a complete buffoon! But then that's my opinion.

We need more education in politics. I never learnt about it in school. The only people who knew were the ones who took politics at A-level. It should be taught, afterall we are allowed to vote at 18. What's the point if you have no understanding about any of the political parties!?

Blimey, I've rambled on!