Politics

[JustGeorge]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I'll just say yes.

 

[SomeRandom]

Of course. That’s all politics is, imo

 

[robocop (actually)]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

"Your goals" could be to help many people or everyone so I think that's too cynical.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

"...or of being used by others to achieve your goals." I think a lot of people, perhaps most people, view this as an evil way to think about politics. It objectifies people. Its not ideal. Another thing about politics is that it is a way to avoid responsibility. You can avoid doing anything and at the same time blame someone else. What happens when 'Good people' never run for office, don't take the time to read about legislation or to inquire about irregularities? That is politic, too.

 

[JustGeorge]

"...or of being used by others to achieve your goals."

That's also very possible. I think most signing up for 'the game' are aware they will have to play along to some extent. Those who won't often face a difficult road ahead.

What happens when 'Good people' never run for office,

I think there's a lot of good people who would run, and should run, but lack funding. Its a shame money has to come into this...

don't take the time to read about legislation or to inquire about irregularities?

I think us citizens don't do enough of this. We get so wrapped up in which politician/celebrity said what to who, but we often have no idea about anything going on at local level, even though this often affects us more.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I think there's a lot of good people who would run, and should run, but lack funding. Its a shame money has to come into this...

"Your goals" could be to help many people or everyone so I think that's too cynical.

Yeah, politics is more than that. In India:

LokManya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Loknayak Jai Prakash Naryan, Narendra Modi

 

[ChristineM]

Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Depends on the national of the politics, in a democracy a politician relies on the votes of others.

And then relies on the will of peers to actually achieve anything.

Not so much in a dictatorship

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

You reminded me of something I once wrote:

“Behind all great wars, are small leaders with large, wounded egos, who convince their people to fight their personal battles for them.

They will willingly sacrifice you for their own false sense of victory and importance.”

 

[Heyo]

Depends on the national of the politics, in a democracy a politician relies on the votes of others.

And then relies on the will of peers to actually achieve anything.

Not so much in a dictatorship

In a democracy you use the voters to achieve your goals, in a dictatorship you use the military. Same difference.

 

[Secret Chief]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

The using can only come after the persuading. Hence the vital importance of interest groups and media ownership.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

Playground of the elites where people are tools.

That's modern politics in a nutshell.

 

[Revoltingest]

"Your goals" could be to help many people or everyone so I think that's too cynical.

It's also the art of cooperation with foes.

 

[Azrael Antilla]

I just read a quote in the book I'm reading(Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata by Anand Neelakantan) that says:

"Politics is the art of using others to achieve your goals."

Was a striking quote to me.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

(Please do not use this space to debate current governments or politicians.)

I agree in the sense that every political movement is a collective endeavour. The word 'using' seems a little cynical. Cooperating with others might be more fair to all.