Politics

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International politics goes by two names: diplomacy<ref>Diplomacy is the ''threat'' of violence</ref>, and war<ref>War is the ''use'' of violence</ref>.
 
International politics goes by two names: diplomacy<ref>Diplomacy is the ''threat'' of violence</ref>, and war<ref>War is the ''use'' of violence</ref>.
  
==Famous quotes==
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==Political Compass==
 
[[Image:Internationalchart.gif|thumb|right|400px|Political views of some modern political figures.]]
 
[[Image:Internationalchart.gif|thumb|right|400px|Political views of some modern political figures.]]
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Traditionally, political views have been defined in terms of "left" and "right".<ref>this terminology comes from the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly in 1789, when politics were as simple as "disagree? We'll guillotine you!"</ref> However, a more accurate way of viewing political leanings in on a multi-axis "compass". The two most common axes are the social axis and the economic axis, each of which deal with issues regarding the respective term (social and economic). The image on the right shows the position on a two-axis compass of several leading political figures.
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Even this concept has led to lightweight proseletyzing - the Libertarian Party has a version of the compass, with a very short quiz to go with it, that is designed to make ''everyone'' decide they must be a libertarian. 
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==Famous quotes==
 
*"For those who enjoy the law or sausage, it is best that they not observe either being made"
 
*"For those who enjoy the law or sausage, it is best that they not observe either being made"
 
*"Politics is a way for unattractive people to become celebrities"
 
*"Politics is a way for unattractive people to become celebrities"
 
*"How can you tell when a politician is [[deceit|lying]]?  Their lips are moving."
 
*"How can you tell when a politician is [[deceit|lying]]?  Their lips are moving."
  
==Political Compass==
+
 
Traditionally, political views have been defined in terms of "left" and "right".<ref>this terminology comes from the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly in 1789, when politics were as simple as "disagree? We'll guillotine you!"</ref> However, a more accurate way of viewing political leanings in on a multi-axis "compass". The two most common axes are the social axis and the economic axis, each of which deal with issues regarding the respective term (social and economic). The image on the right shows the position on a two-axis compass of several leading political figures.
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==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==

Revision as of 07:04, 23 October 2007

Politics is the means by which public policy is decided. The general application refers to policy-making at a government level, however, it has also come to mean the ins and outs of complex social situations, often having nothing to do with the reason the situation exists - for example, "office politics".

Here we will confine ourselves to the policy-making meaning.

Whatever the system a government uses for its organization (republic[1], dictatorship[2], town meeting, etc.), there is bound to be political wrangling for power, glory, and occasionally, the public good. Some systems attempt to keep much of this political give-and-take in the public eye (usually in republics, with "good government" laws), much to the disgust of the public. In other systems almost everything save the occasional "announcement" takes place behind closed doors. Most real world politics is a mix of these two.

Generally speaking, the art of politics consists of figuring out how to get some power or responsibility, and then figuring out how to get other people in such positions to agree to one's grand schemes in order to put them in place. This usually involves so many compromises between the parties involved that the final result in unrecognizable to either, or their constituencies. Usually, bribery of some form[3] is the best way to get one's desired results.

International politics goes by two names: diplomacy[4], and war[5].

Political Compass

File:Internationalchart.gif
Political views of some modern political figures.

Traditionally, political views have been defined in terms of "left" and "right".[6] However, a more accurate way of viewing political leanings in on a multi-axis "compass". The two most common axes are the social axis and the economic axis, each of which deal with issues regarding the respective term (social and economic). The image on the right shows the position on a two-axis compass of several leading political figures.

Even this concept has led to lightweight proseletyzing - the Libertarian Party has a version of the compass, with a very short quiz to go with it, that is designed to make everyone decide they must be a libertarian.

Famous quotes

  • "For those who enjoy the law or sausage, it is best that they not observe either being made"
  • "Politics is a way for unattractive people to become celebrities"
  • "How can you tell when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving."


References and Notes

  1. A republic is organized so the ruling class lets "the people" choose between them by "voting"
  2. A dictatorship usually allows the people the privilege of voting for the winner
  3. In civilized republics, bribery is usually called "campaign contributions".
  4. Diplomacy is the threat of violence
  5. War is the use of violence
  6. this terminology comes from the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly in 1789, when politics were as simple as "disagree? We'll guillotine you!"
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