[TeMPOraL]

There are two issues I still have with this.

1. Obviously, people working in politics believe in it as a vehicle of change, by means of self-selection. A person who doesn't believe in politics will go somewhere else.

2. I wonder just how much real influence can an individual have, especially as they gain more power. Power is gained through deals and friendships, and the more you entangle yourself in the exchange of favours, the more autonomy you lose. I theorize that the people at the top positions are mostly just puppets with no real power and autonomy - because a person that looks uncontrollable will not be allowed by their party to reach higher positions.

[kobayashi]

1: And it's a shame when people don't "believe in politics", because if one isn't a lunatic, then that individual, if involved, can and will make a difference. There's a saying that's especially true in politics - half the battle is just showing up. Well, it's commonly known that if one wants to be influential, it starts with staying later than the other people and stacking chairs, stuffing envelopes, and knocking on doors. Now, that's not sufficient to obtain success, but it is necessary. However, when we tell people that they can't make a difference because they don't have money, we're lying to citizens and suppressing their democratic influence. Can we criticize aspects of democracy? Absolutely. Should we say it's fundamentally broken? Absolutely not.

2: That's theorizing without experience or evidence.