Run for office? Do I LOOK crazy?

[Mythsaje]

Some time back I received an e-mail from my mother-in-law in response to one of my essays I posted on my (now long-neglected) blog, saying I should run for political office and that she'd definitely vote for me.

Let me add that to a long list of things I'm never going to do. When I was young I considered studying law, then realized that I'm not particularly good at obfuscation. I can be diplomatic when necessary, but I prefer speaking clear truth to hedging. And I think practicing law is, at its base, about manipulating the facts.

I also considered pursuing a career in journalism, until I realized I'm just not nosy enough. I don't really give a rat's ass what anyone else is doing in the privacy of their own home. I don't care if they're smoking a joint, drinking absinthe, or screwing half of their home town.

I was in a would-be rock band as a teenager. Since then I've realized that the last thing I want is to have half the world staring at me wondering what I was going to do next. I SO don't want to be the center of attention. At least the fame of an author tends to be of the sublime kind, for the most part. Most people have barely a clue what even the best-selling authors look like. They don't get followed down the street, or chased from city to city. Maybe it's because fans of the written word are more restrained as a rule.

Who knows.

But I do know that, despite the fact that I have ideas and are willing to share them, I would never seriously consider running for political office. I don't want to live under a microscope. I would, however, happily support a few friends if they decided to venture in that direction. I'd be glad to write for them, brainstorm with them, and, when necessary, wallop them upside the head if they were getting too big for their britches.

But subject myself to it all?

Uh-uh.

I may be weird, but I'm not crazy.

[Book Lover]

1. What about really local politics?

Like at the county or city level?

[Mythsaje]

2. I've got a good friend I've been trying to talk into it forever...

He's a bit more conservative than I am, but an intelligent, thoughtful man with a lot of good ideas. He's actually considered it more than once, and he's not really any more interested in the spotlight than I am.

I'd probably make a better progressive radio host than any sort of politician. :D

[Sherman A1]

3. There are all sorts of local and regional

boards and commissions I would suspect in your area. I am sure your local political entity would have a councilman or such that might help you get appointed to something you find of interest.

[Monkeyman]

4. Start small work your why up

The more people we get in office the better the Country will be.