Is it normal to not understand politics at all?

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20 Comments

Everyone online seems to know everything about politics. Everyone knows which politicians to hate, which to support, and so on.

But for me, I don't understand ANY of it. Really.

I don't know the difference between Democrat and Republican, or Conservative and Labour. I don't know what a communist is, or a liberal, or a socialist, or any of those other "-ist" names. I don't know the difference between the right and the left. I've honestly never cared about voting because I have no idea whether one politician is better than another politician. I don't know what diplomacy or federalism is or what the Senate does, or what Congress is. Am I really the only person who is lost here? What does it all mean? Why do people understand it and I don't?

You could just say "Duh! Just look it all up on the web!" Well, yeah, I've tried that. But it's still so massively confusing that I can never remember anything I've ever been told about politics. I can look up the definition of a diplomat now, and forget it tomorrow. You could tell me the aims of a certain party and I'll forget them not longer afterwards.

In fact, whenever people get into political debates, I just stare blankly. I could not add anything to a political conversation. I don't know why people say that certain governments are corrupt, while others aren't. In fact, according to many people online, every government is somehow corrupt. I can no longer tell whether people hate Obama just because they like hating Obama, or because they actually disagree with whatever he does. If a person said "I think Vladimir Putin is a socialist" I'd honestly have no idea whether they're saying he is a good or bad leader. None of it makes any sense to me whatsoever.

So is it normal to find politics extremely complicated and impossible to understand, or am I just an uninformed moron? I mean, I'm generally well-educated, I did well in school an graduated university. I'm an intelligent guy, but politics is all nonsense to me.

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Based on 57 votes (43 yes)
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Comments ( 20 )
  • poon__jabber
    9 years ago

    Politics is just a big show and dance to cover up the real agenda of the illuminati.

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    • thegypsysailor
      9 years ago

      You've been reading too many comic books.

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      • poon__jabber
        9 years ago

        no... I don't read comic books. It's called enlightenment.

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        • thegypsysailor
          9 years ago

          whatever

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          • poon__jabber
            9 years ago

            do you believe everything the government says?

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            • thegypsysailor
              9 years ago

              Do you honestly believe some secret society rules the world? Please, a little thought here; that's the stuff of great fiction and comic books; the great evil so and so.
              Hey, I've got a bridge for sale; it runs from Jersey to NYC and it's cheap! Wanna buy it? I'll make you a heck of a deal.

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  • Darkoil
    9 years ago

    Politicians don't even know politics, that's why they are so shit at it.

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  • Teh4HorsMen
    9 years ago

    It's easy to know which politicians to hate: just hate all of them.

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  • slings_and_arrows
    9 years ago

    Other ways you could try: do a skills swap with someone e.g. 1. They teach you politics you teach them your skill (language, computer skills, cooking, ballroom dancing etc.) 2. go to lectures and small discussion groups (where beginners are welcome) 3. Find a politics tutor, you could do this with 1 and 2 just to learn some basics.

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  • dynamohumm
    9 years ago

    Don't worry I'm in my 50's and I have never really got into the understanding of politics. I live in Australia and both the major parties suck big time. ALL politicians are out for themselves and not for the people they are meant to be looking out for. If you vote just try to vote for the lesser evil (if the option is available).

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  • myownopinions
    9 years ago

    This reminds me of a video I just watched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjI5238Zxc (specifically at time 1:12).

    Anyways, yes, it's normal and I'm pretty much the same as you are. I can make my own opinions on things that turn out to be political only when I don't have to deal with a whole bunch of political jargon that I cannot seem to memorize no matter how many times I try looking it up.

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  • Unimportant
    9 years ago

    It feels like most people don't actually know anything about politics. At least that would explain the election results.

    And I think it is only honest, if the people who do not understand politics, also do not vote.

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  • WhiteStallion
    9 years ago

    I have this one friend who says she hates politics and changes the subject every time. I think politics is definitely complex because not all the information is made public. They only lay out the cards they want us to see. You really have to dig deep to find out the truth, if ever, so its just one big elitist board game to me. Its the people who just come to quick conclusions based on sensationalist TV channels that are dangerous and I'm glad you're not one of them! So don't necessarily feel left out though it will definitely help you trying to learn a bit more when someone tries to convince you that their political views are holy doctrine.

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  • Avant-Garde
    9 years ago

    There has to be books that explains these things. Go to the library and see what you can find.

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  • thegypsysailor
    9 years ago

    Overall, politics is pretty simple. The Republicans want smaller government with fewer services for the poor and to have no financial responsibility for supporting the government. They want the 'lesser' folk to pay for government while they hoard their wealth.
    Democrats, on the other hand, support programs that aid the less fortunate and support the arts and sciences. They expect everyone to pay their fair share (even the rich) of running the government.
    Republicans much prefer the country be at war; it's a great way for the rich to make money, but most Dems would rather have the country at peace, working without sending it's youth to die so that the Republicans can get richer.

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  • ToReachWhatCan'tBeTouched
    9 years ago

    I don't understand them much myself. The reason I don't is because I don't care for them. But people aren't "dumb" if they don't understand them much. Politics aren't neccessarily a thing one'd easily understand.

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