I have noted many threads and posts on political inclinations....

by The Rebel 21 Replies latest jw friends

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  The Rebel

  which I think is great, since as witnesses we never displayed any political inclinations.

  But whilst political alligence means we are taking on new values, we are once again subject to trusting what the leaders say, and subject to propaganda from the media.

  Personally I see the irony of this situation, and must confess to being very skeptical, about supporting any political party. In fact I am glad as a witness I abstained from voting, because i believe history has shown the vote that would have shaped my conscience would have been misplaced.

  Anyway how convinced are you of your new political views?

  The Rebel.
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  kaik

  I noticed here that many Americans are hard core GOP supporters, and will relentlessly attack you (it happens to me here all the time) to be ultra-liberal if I disagree with them. I am very much centrist, and I do see political parties as a joke. I am not a member of any party. In USA anyone can find its own party, in totalitarian regime, the party finds you.
  
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  Ruby456

  I like politics as it is a way to keep in touch with intractable issues and a way to have your say. I'm normally centre left but as the centre right is behaving more like a centre left party I am tending to support them at the moment but this can change...
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  Simon

  I don't think many Americans are really aware of how "right" much of their politics are compared to the rest of the world. Even the democrats are right of most conservative parties in other countries so you can imagine how the extreme half of the Republicans appear to many of us non-Americans. The country is polarized between the two parties who short-change them with a relatively small set of swing voters who are the real electorate.

  I think the key to politics is to not listen to one news source, especially if that source is closely aligned with a particular party. Fact check and research the issues so you can be informed and then judge the policies based on that. Listen to the people who know about a subject and don't have special interests at play and learn from history.

  Too much of politics is knee-jerk and indoctrination - you can see the same rhetoric spew out over and over.

  If you are 100% sure of your political affiliation you're doing it wrong. Most policies have some basis from both camps and are most effective when they borrow from both sides.
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  The Rebel

  
  

  I must say how fortunate I am, that I was raised in a given social order, in which instead of knowing hunger, I was able to accumulate wealth simply by being born and owning property in London rather than other less affluent areas of England.

  i mention the above, because once upon a time not so long ago I believed my being born ln London made me better than the average person. But I have come to realise if something exists in one place It doesn't mean it exists somewhere else. And if I had been born somewhere else I may have been bombed or suffered many other catastrophes.

  ok being baptised a witness was a CATASTROPHE I suffered but wasn't that because of politics? As in other lands through politics the Witnesses are banned. And is not politics why many " poor" today in England live on a level in which most have a refrigerator, television and cadgets than my rich grand-mother never had?

  So what am I trying to say?

  The civilization I see in my land Is the stupidity of many rich and poor alike not being satisfied, and pursuing ridiculous more wants more. Such propaganda is filled by the advertisers, selling to the rich " clothes worn by movie stars " and to the poor cheap mass production models of cloths worn by movie stars. But isn't it the political system that allows it?

  i can imagine in many lands where such materialism is not so important, more families returning home from work and eating supper together as a family, then helping the children with homework and enjoying quality time together. Such families I imagine are more likely to discuss politics together, or at least discuss a worldview. ( I accept such thinking could still be big brother, but unfortunately in England I think many people are materalistic, and also more interested in T.V soap operas, reality TV, & football than discussing politics or having a family meal together.

  So my point is ;-

  Q) why is a government happy that citizens can think this way?

  I ask the question because i am sure many who vote, put more effort in to how they wear there clothes to the election poll, than about the deeper issues of the impact of their vote. But as ex-witnesses our " Captive Minds" have been opened, and so surely if we have political alligence and vote, this should be well thought out?

  Therefore back to my O.P "I have noticed many threads and posts on political inclinations," should also ask:-

  A) Q) How much time do you spend on politics.

  B) Q) Do you really believe your vote will matter? ( remember how we had the theocratic vote in the K.H)

  The Rebel.

  
  
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  punkofnice

  I think politicians are filth. Political parties are all the same and run by the biggest bully or front person. I do not trust a single thing they say. Conservative, Liberal and Labour...all the same. Full of sh1t.

  The media cannot be trusted either. What they report cannot be trusted as being truthful.

  Do I feel that way because I was raised a JW, or is it just me?

  Anyway, they can all get stuffed and drop dead.
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  The Rebel

  Punk I always admire the way you call a spade a spade, but I hope you realise your above comment " POLITICIANS are FILTH" will forfeit you from this years queens honours list?

  As this means " Paul Jackson" will never become " Sir" " O.B.E " or even a " C.B.E" P Jackson, I suggest you take your above comments back. I also suggest you do so immediately, and send your apologies to :-

  Her Majesty, ( The Queen) Buckingham Palace, ( opposite St James Park) London

  The Rebel.
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  punkofnice

  Reb - I'll have to run my comments past the watchtower lawyers first. I need donations in order to go any further with this.

  "Politics: ‘Poli’ a Latin word meaning ‘many’; and tics meaning ‘bloodsucking creatures’." – Robin Williams
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  JeffT

  I'm not a member of any political party, this is after being a moderate republican (there were such things when I was a teenager) , a socialist, a moderate Democrat (also a vanishing species), and a right wing Republican. At this point I look at political affiliation the same way I look at religion: if you're not an independent you're buying somebody else's BS. (just my opinion).

  I agree that most news outlets are biased. I get my news from a variety of sources on the internet. Breaking news on CNN, the only TV news I watch regularly is Al Jezeera America. The local network affiliates are good for weather and sports.
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  LoveUniHateExams

  how convinced are you of your new political views?

  I'm interested in (British) politics and watch Question Time, The Daily Politics, etc.

  But I don't have a particular set of views as such - I don't belong to any political party. Some of my views are right-of-centre, some are left-of-centre.

  It seems that the British political right, left and centre don't align very well with the American political spectrum.

  For instance, I've learnt that the American Christian right is very active and a cause for concern. In Britain, the Christian right is very weak.