October_30th's Journal: Why become a politician?

A very good article on BBC News.

Politicians have become like the priests of an ancient, primitive religion. They keep frantically blessing ever more sacrifices and offering up ever more prayers. But few people believe they're controlling destiny - and I doubt they believe it themselves.

That reminds me of an excellent, albeit fictional, dialogue in Oliver Stone's Nixon:

Young Student: You don't want the war. We don't want the war. The Vietnamese don't want the war. So, why does it go on?
Richard M. Nixon: [hesitates, unable to respond]
Young Student: You can't stop it, can you? Even if you wanted to. Because it's not you. It's the system. The system won't let you stop it.
Richard M. Nixon: There's a lot more at stake here than what you want. Or even what I want.
Young Student: Then what's the point? What's the point of being president? You're powerless!
Richard M. Nixon: No! No, I'm not powerless. Because I understand the system, I believe I can, uh... I can control it. Maybe not control it totally... but tame it enough to make it do some good.
Young Student: Sounds like you're talking about a wild animal.
Richard M. Nixon: Yeah. Maybe I am.

The power that comes with networking with the right people, the need to understand and game/tame the system as well as maybe doing something good. That's probably what would make me turn into a politician - if I wanted it and had the necessary people skills (I suck at debate and giving talks ;) ).

sort of like

[Mantorp]

making monster rock bands represent you in the Eurovision song contest, very anti-establishment

who needs people skills?

[isfugl]

Exterminate all your opponents right away. Better yet, send them to that island with the creepy exercise balls... Who needs negotiation? ;-)

Re:who needs people skills?

[October_30th]

Indeed. Who needs negotiation when you can first try lawyers and then those creepy exercise balls. ;)