Are You Politically Active?

I avidly follow daily, I vote and I join letter writing campaigns -- or phone their offices directly ahead of votes on bills or issues that I care about. I do it so that my voice is heard and counted.

Yes but not as much as some of my posts would indicate. I find it fascinating to see what politicians say causes this or that but doesn't. Then they say this will fix everything but you know it won't. Then I run around here going ahhhhnooooo that doesn't wash.

I can't vote unless I understand what I am voting on. I always vote, I guess that makes me politically active. :)

Minored in government, so it's a "yes." I was a founding member of our group for Democrats in college and was active in Bill Clinton's first campaign after college (called voters and did voter registration stands). Now, with kids I only have time to write my representatives and vote, but I figure that's more than the average American does. Women worked hard to have a say in politics, so I feel it's critical to be involved.

Yes, I keep up with politics. Not as hardcore as some, but I think it's important to know what's going on with the management of the country. It helps me to be a better voter and citizen.

I sometimes write letters/emails to politicians, too, to either thank them or to ask them to rethink an aspect of legislation they are supporting/creating/opposing. I spend a lot of time signing petitions, too. I used to do more in regard to attending protests; now I am moving toward more supportive roles (feeding volunteers, folding mailers, etc.) which do not compromise my abilities as a mom. I can't afford babysitters so that I can attend rallies and will not take my four year old son to these events.

Occassionally, I do get burned out on it (I had a no-politics rule when I was pregnant; when some people wanted to argue, I'd just jokingly tell them that I was in my "Circle of Serenity" due to baby. ;) ). Overall, though, I prefer not to be ignorant of what's coming down from the White House, State Capitol or City Hall, because at some point it will likely affect me or someone I know.

Yes and Yes! My seventeen year old daughter has also already applied for her Voters Card when she turns 18 in May!

I read to keep informed. I read one conservative and one liberal newspaper daily. I cannot watch too much t.v., because the stations filter way too much, presenting only flashy bits, often not the real story.

I keep in touch with my local and state representatives, have attended town and school committee meetings, and have worked on local and state campaigns. It's interesting to me that if you know your elected officials, it makes them more human, and I begin to understand the different points of view that they are presented with before they make their decisions. Nice question.

As a citizen in a democracy, I of course keep up with what my representatives are doing. I also keep track of major issues in the world, etc. I write letters expressing my opinion to my elected reps all the time, and I have sent mail to the White house many times. I do have a B.A. in political science, so politics is kind of my thing, but mostly because I love the idea of democracy, that this is my country, and that they work for ME. Just think we employ the President. He works for us. It's a great idea.

I just read this great article this morning: http://www.truth-out.org/why-iceland-should-be-news-not/1...

It seriously makes me want to dig out an old pair of combat boots and join the Occupiers. I want to do something to get rid of all the crooks in Washington. Did you know that their average rate of return on their stocks is abnormally higher than everyone else? Did you know that insider information is basically LEGAL!?!?!?!?!!? Washington is owned by Wall Street. My house is almost underwater because of a bunch of greedy crooks in suits, and voting just doesn't seem to be enough anymore. I am seriously worried about the future of America, especially with world markets (including China!) having serious, serious money issues.

So yes, of course! My future and my children's future rest on what is going on in the world and what political institutions are going to do about it

Yes, I research all sides of all issues so I can have an informed opinion, and regularly contact my representatives. When I write letters, I often just get a polite form letter back, but I figure my concerns have at least been tallied.

I do this because we have a representative form of government, at least in the ideal. If I don't stay involved, I figure have no right to complain.

Yes! It is the duty of a citizen in a democratic republic to "keep up" with politics and to perform their civic duty to make informed votes. We owe it to the memories of those who have died for our independence and protection to not take our government and freedoms for granted, and to fight for the type of world we want to live in, and want to pass to our offspring.

Active, or keep up? WILDLY different things.

Am I politically active?

Dear. God. No. I am not active. I find politics to be the epitome of boring and predictable. In order to affect any kind of change one has to devote one's life (or at least all their waking hours for however long they're involved). It's the single most boring thing I can possibly imagine. I *almost* rather slit my own throat.

Do I keep up? Sure. With several country's politics. Both living and dead. Study politics of 3 empires, 3 colonies, 3 vassal states, 3 city states, and 3 tribes... and prepare to yawn your way through modern politics. NOTHING ever changes. Just the names of the characters and what's morally acceptable in any given society. It's the most predictable game in town.

Yes.

I vote. I have attended political rallies. I have written letters to my representatives. I teach my children about being an informed citizen/voter...we get our news from multiple news sources and then form an opinion. We talk to others about politics too among our friends...I love to talk politics.

My degree is in Social Science and I have a passion for the social sciences. So many decisions that are made in a country's political arena have to do with religion, geography,history, natural resources,power, money, public opinion but usually money and power.

Great question.

Good luck and best wishes!!

Yes - First I feel like it is my civic responsibility. Second, I am a high school social studies teacher - it's part of our TEKS.

Yes, I am a member of our local conservative group and have been involved since I turned 18! I could not wait to vote and have a voice.
As a mom, I see it similar to child rearing. Do we just give up on our kids when they don't act like we think/expect them to act? Do we give up on them when the going gets dirty? No, we educate ourselves and find a solution to help our kids.
I have taken my kids with me to vote many times-they can't go in but just seeing me take the time is going to stay with them. I have worked as an election official several times-they always need people to volunteer for this. You are paid (very minimally) but it is a tough job because you have to stay from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.!! Take your own food cause you can't leave and no cell phones allowed!! Gives you an entire different perspective on voting-our voter registrar has to stay until all votes are turned in. Thankfully with electronic machines, votes are counted but she has to log everything in, take machines to locations and pick up, etc. Next time you vote, thank them for being there.
Good question and I hope it helps to answer what you were looking for.

Honestly? Not really. Why? It's difficult for me to believe anyone that wants power.

I feel that anyone that would be right for any political job is too smart to run.

[one of my favorite sayings] "Sure you can trust the Government. Just ask a Native American."

I keep up with politics and vote, yes. However, I am not politically active. If something really needs change, I will write a letter. Other then that, there are better things I can do with my life.

Politically active, hmm, I would have liked to, but things never turn out the way one hopes to. I think that the polls are always fiddled with in some way or another. I've stopped paying attention to it to be honest. I feel that there is no outcome to it. I used to like having discussions with family and friends about politics. That hardly happens, because everyone says that it's incorrect to discuss politics at the table since it always causes havoc. oh well...

Not really but I recently became involved with an issue affecting my neighborhood (they want to put an apartment complex in a rural residential area just outside my immediate neighborhood) and i"m working with all sorts of local organizations to try to get the city to buy the land and turn it into open space. It's really been interesting so far and is slightly discouraging - we've already "lost" one round and are now into appeals. Other than that - not so much...

That's 2 different questions with 2 different answers...

#1 NO, I am not politically active...maybe in the future when kids are independent.

#2 Yes, I keep up with politics.

Active? As in attend rallies, etc? No.

I vote and I keep up with the politics. It's my duty to do so.

Not really. My son does and shares things with me. It's because I'm busy and that's not where my interests lie. But I do pray for our leaders regularly.

I do vote and study who I'm voting for and study the issues etc. but I don't read about politics or watch the news that often. Ocasionally but not often.