Do you think it will be possible to run for political office.
By John
@mac1946 (1602)
Calgary, Alberta
March 2, 2010 2:07pm CST
As we all know,it costs a lot for the advertising for a person to be able to run for office,so basically,only the rich are able to.
But now that we have so many open internet sites we can use for purpose,do you think it will happen that anyone will be able to try to get votes by using the net to advertise?
And will it be excepted by the powers that be?
thank you for your replys.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
2 Mar 10
It depends on how high your aspirations are. If you think you can come out of nowhere and run for the presidency - forget it. But, it is possible to run for a local office and then start working your way up through state offices and then on to national politics.
Of course, if you make it even to state level you will have lobbyists throwing money at you and you will be "rich" long before you make it to the top.
1 person likes this
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
4 Mar 10
Thank you both,I do know we can do much better by having street wise people run,we have had the good luck of having just such a person go from city council to provincial premier and do nothing but good for every one,unfortunatly,they only come around once in a liftime as far as I have seen,the next one in destrayed everything that took years to do in less the 6 months,it should be impossible for lawyers to be able to run for any office.
thanks for the insite and responses
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
•
3 Mar 10
Exactly, if you get elected at local level first, and then do a good job in office, people will be much more willing to consider voting for you if you make a run for a "higher" office later on. In any case, a lot of people coming into politics turn their noses up at the thought of being a councillor, thinking it's not important enough, but local councils do have a major impact on people's everyday lives, so it's a good place to start if you really want to make a difference.
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
•
2 Mar 10
I disagree that only the rich can run for office. Obviously having money helps, but the main thing you need is some willing activists to deliver leaflets etc and a sensible plan. I know two former local councilors (one of whom was elected as an independent) and one serving councilor. None of them are rich. I also helped out with a local election campaign last year - the candidate just used his home computer and printer to produce leaflets, which we delivered. He also did some canvassing on his own, as well as getting a couple of letters printed in the local press (free publicity). He didn't win, but he got a pretty good result.
It seems to me that using the internet for campaigning is of only limited use, because you're not going to reach everyone in the area in which you're campaigning for office - it's no use if someone on the other side of the world thinks you're a brilliant candidate if the guy next door has never heard of you!
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
4 Mar 10
So true,I am not really up to date on the American political system as I am the Canadian one,but here,we have to pay about $500.00 dollars,just to be put on the list.The unfortunate thing with our way,is that only laywers and the rich are able to pay thier way into office,then if running for federal office,you must be liberal to get the eastern bunch to vote for you.
At least you can impeach your president if he is bad enough,there is nothing we can do for at least four years when we get the liberals in there,unfortunatly,once we do get another party in,the lieberals still have enough power to cause nothing but trouble,so it would be very nice to get a regular worker to get in to straighten out the messes.
Thank you for your insite.
1 person likes this
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Mar 10
As far as I have seen,this is for civic government,from there it goes up as which level you are running for.
I am Canadian actually,so our government is basically the same as yours with the exception of Her Majesty,which our past traitor says we no longer are a part of.
We Can't impeach ours either(unfortunatly)we must put a vote of non-confidence against the entire government.
Thank you for your reply.
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
•
5 Mar 10
No worries, although I should point out that I'm British, not American (so we can't impeach the head of state - possibly we could chop her head off if she got too big for her boots, but that's not been done for several centuries). In the UK, if you want to stand for Parliament, you have to put up a £500 deposit to get on the ballot - you only get that back if 5% of the electorate vote for you, so that favours the big parties for a start. It's a bit easier at local level, there's no deposit to pay, you just have to get ten people to nominate you. I know people who've fought and won local campaigns almost single-handed, running as independents. That $500 fee you pay over there, is that for all levels of government, or just the state and/or federal governments?
@redrover (597)
• United States
2 Mar 10
It would be totally possible to run, but winning would be nearly impossible.
The system is not set up for common folk to get into high offices. You have to groom yourself early on to ever have dream. It also helps to know people in high and low places. In my opinion T.V. stations pick our officials, they make them look however they choose.
Then again I don't want someone like me in the WHite House.
@sunkernjs (219)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
These days popularity is the number one factor for an aspiring politician. However, in order to do this money is the key. Well somehow, if you really deserve to be a politician and people around you likes you fill yourself with guts!
