running for congress or other legislative office

[Chaohinon]

Perhaps this is too lofty a goal, like something a child would say, but one of the major, long-term resolutions I've made for myself involves getting into politics.

Establishing the foundation for that seems easy enough to plan out, now it's just up to my willpower and dedication to take the reigns. Currently, I stand poised to graduate high school and move onto the army, provided that I can secure a job as a Mental Health Specialist. I'm desperately hoping this will give me the opportunity to work with soldiers suffering from disorders like PTSD, as that would be precisely the leverage needed for sociopolitical rhetoric. I suppose you could say I'm plotting a trojan horse entry into "the system", in case anyone's wondering why a ponytailed anarchist would consider entering the military; well, that, and to look decent in the eyes of my countrymen, and of course, money. In the meantime I'll try to knock out my associates degree, studying primarily psychology/sociology, as well as political science (and economics and philosophy, if possible).

Once I'm out, I'll start working towards a doctorate in psychology, and try to get as far as I can in political science and economics. Maybe that's more than one person can handle in a lifetime, but all three fields of study are vital to providing expertise in the political spectrum. Simultaneously, I'll churn out as many independent opinion pieces as I can. Who knows, perhaps I'll strike gold and gain notoriety if I work at it.

But that's just the easy part.

The next step I have absolutely no clue how to even approach. The golden egg is congress, though, how to get there? Would anyone here happen to have knowledge or experience with this sort of thing?

Indeed, the fact that so many of our representatives come from silver-spoon business backgrounds is daunting, among other things. But more to the point, where does one even get started with this? Is it absolutely necessary to begin with things like city, county, or state office? It just seems like those would simply just consume time that would be better spent exploring my prospective fields of study.

[amsterdamage]

Man, that's such a great goal to set!! The best thing I can recommend is watch a lot of CSPAN and research the backgrounds of the current representatives and senators. Work out what qualifications are most respected and most likely to get you in. Since you have to be elected in a lot of it will be image, so one good thing you can do for yourself is to do a lot of volunteer work, something substantial that'll sound good when people are reading over your bio.

Also, you want to learn how to debate so listen to them on CSPAN, they're always very polite to each other even though they hardly ever agree with each other. Join a debating team and a public speaking group as well so you get used to presenting and defending your opinions.

Now you've got your goal check whether your plan to achieve it is the best one. Will time in the military plus an associates degree followed by a doctorate be respected enough? I don't the answer to that but it should be easy to find out by looking at the qualifications and backgrounds of the people currently in those positions.


Good luck man!!
Now you've set yourself a great goal (which is often the hardest thing to do) work out the best plan to get yourself there. Once you've done that work your ass off to make it reality.

EDIT:
I just remembered man, one thing that'll help you is to include marketing in your studies. I never thought anything about marketing until I studied it and made it my major but it changes the way you view the world and it'll help you analyze your target market and sell yourself to it.

[ThePhantom]

Marketing is your major! That's great. And good goal man, politics is an interesting field, and maybe you can push the issue of legalization

[CosmicSerpent]

Sounds awesome if you can pull it off. I've always thought if I wasn't pursuing an art degree, politics would be my next choice. They're both fields that require an intense passion in order to be successful. It's kind of sad that national politics is such an exclusive and controlled system. We like to think that the best of the best get elected, but more often than not they turn out to be corrupt or stupid. That's because it is literally impossible to get anywhere unless you're a member of a certain family, have certain business affiliations, or know the right people. Good ideas, ability, and character seem to be the last things that get people elected.

[effektz]

To the OP, you hang out in congress for a while and when I run for president I'll go ahead and put on my ticket as VP (or head of the DEA).

[ilrein]

Originally Posted by CosmicSerpent

Sounds awesome if you can pull it off. I've always thought if I wasn't pursuing an art degree, politics would be my next choice. They're both fields that require an intense passion in order to be successful. It's kind of sad that national politics is such an exclusive and controlled system. We like to think that the best of the best get elected, but more often than not they turn out to be corrupt or stupid. That's because it is literally impossible to get anywhere unless you're a member of a certain family, have certain business affiliations, or know the right people. Good ideas, ability, and character seem to be the last things that get people elected.

It is true but it is not the only way. Imagine if a celebrity were to run for mayor. I'm 95% sure that celebrity would win. Connections take you where you want to be, but the public eye is what's important. I plan myself to run for mayor, then move up slowly with a ultimate goal of Prime Minister.

It might sound like a insane stoner idea, but I plan to study computer programming and extensively study hypnotherapy and NLP. Something like a Derren Brown crossed with a Computer Hacker.

[thedon420]

Originally Posted by effektz

To the OP, you hang out in congress for a while and when I run for president I'll go ahead and put on my ticket as VP (or head of the DEA).

after you're my VP

I'd run for county controler now, but I'm under 21, I'd win too, because everyone in Allegehny county hates Onarato, frog-eyed asshole, 10% tax on alcohol to bail out the port athority (pittsburgh public transit), I'd kick his ass in an election, but I can't run. Oh well, he's running unopposed, so I'll get him next election, anyways good luck

[enevitable]

Actually sometime in 2003 they enacted some sort of salary compensation policy so that the average joe could run for congress, and deduct their salary into their campaign

So if you have the drive to run for congress, you might as well take an advantage of that