I've never been an overly politically-minded person; I keep up with national (and sometimes international) politics, but I grew up knowing that I didn't want to be a politician. Being a journalist, ironically, is the closest thing to it.
Politicians have to be charismatic, demagogues, and able to espouse beliefs that they will unwaveringly stand upon. And they generally have my respect.
If you're someone who may have exposure to a large number of people, expect to be tapped for them. And be flattered that someone saw you as important enough to their campaign that they want your face attached to it.
Running a campaign, as I have come to learn, is an arduous process. The candidate and campaign team fight to appeal to the undecided voter, while not alienating their own supporters (guess what I learned in political science).
As I was elected to serve as the president for the building I live in, I got to see what happens when politics are applied to a college community.
In the fall, during the personality elections, the public forum for our building was a bit of a nightmare. Candidate promotions (a bit excessively pushed by supporters) were suddenly met with a tremendous outcry. The building itself became hostile overall. Unsurprisingly, my attempts at mediation were not well-received.
This is why I am not suited for politics.
The other residents, not realizing that their inherently neutrality in the context of campus election made them a prime audience for electioneers, believed themselves assailed in an election which they felt had no real gravity.
It wasn't the apathy that was the problem; it was the aggressive nature of said apathy. Obviously, not voting is as much a right as voting is, but campaign teams are formed to ask, not demand, for support.
Interestingly enough, despite such a belligerent stance against the election, the candidates who generated the most support in the building were the ones who literally went door-to-door, personally asking for support.
As for our online forum, our cabinet has dealt with ways to prevent such a violent reaction. All is basically well.
Of course, we still have the ones who will campaign for nobody at all. It's humorous to watch.
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