Who Can Become a Politician?

As with any public service position becoming a politician requires the ability to work directly with people and navigate potentially volatile diplomatic situations – both domestic and international. Whether it is a seat in the oval office or a seat in City Hall it is important to know what qualifications or useful skills will help an aspiring politician’s chances at serving the public.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Politician?

Contrary to popular belief, having a degree can be helpful in furthering education and becoming a well rounded person but it is not a requirement to become a politician. However, an area of expertise or the demonstrated dedication that comes with achieving a level of higher education can win the trust of discerning voters who may otherwise question a person’s qualifications and abilities to see a project through to the end.

A good indicator of the diverse backgrounds of politicians can be seen in the current candidates running for President. While President Obama has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations, as well as a Law Degree, other candidates have delightfully diverse life experiences.

Ron Paul has delivered over 4,000 babies in the course of his career as an obstetrician and Newt Gingrich’s entire academic history has been dedicated to European History. Rick Perry holds a degree in Animal Science – which may qualify him to work in the political arena. The fact remains that while having a degree can help a candidate’s political career, it does not necessarily matter what kind of degree it is.

Tips for Becoming a Politician

The answer is there is no simple answer. Politicians hail from all walks of life and many major in unique and interesting backgrounds people would not immediately associate with the political spotlight. There are some general guidelines that can help focus and enhance a person’s professional resume, lending them legitimacy when they ask voters to head to the polls.

1. Becoming familiar with the issues - No politician can expect to get far without a comprehensive knowledge of the issues at hand. Successful politicians have the ability to speak eloquently and convincingly when it comes to the hot issues in the public spotlight.

2. Gain relevant experience - Many people can gain relevant experience through the course of their higher education by serving in student government or other political positions on campus. Other types of experience can include serving on committees and councils in the community. A demonstrated ability to work well with the public and other political figures can further enhance an aspiring politician’s relevant experience.

3. Become visible in the community - Everyone has to start somewhere and unless a person has significant political connections already, he or she will typically have to begin at the bottom. Being a politician means being actively involved in the governance process. Showing up to town hall meetings, attending open hearings, and penning editorials can be useful in making connections and also building a visible presence. This same visibility can also come back to haunt a politician. Writing a heated editorial about hot button issues can resurface at a later date, especially when it stands in conflict with a politician’s current stance on the issue.

Political science, economics, business, government, and law are all popular majors for those considering political science careers but there are more important elements to becoming a politician than the degree’s area of expertise.

A dedication to public service, a willingness to endure social and political hardships, and a fervent desire to represent the people’s will are all the essential components a real politician needs.

While visiting one of my favorite, social hangouts earlier today, I came across the question: Why do conservatives think they own Christianity?

I’ve wondered that sometimes myself – although my version isn’t painted with such a wide brush. No one should categorize “all conservatives” or “all Christians” in to such small boxes.

I thought about the question for a bit… my thoughts are:

I’ve often joked, calling myself an "extreme moderate" because I easily fit, quite definitively into each side, with staunch beliefs, easily defined by either sides.

When it comes to politics, I do try to leave my religion out of it.

I don’t think it takes a good Christian to be a good CEO, doctor, fireman, policeman, etc. Why should that factor into a person’s ability to run a country?

Oh, I wouldn’t want a person with a heart filled with hate, or someone who lacks spirituality at all, running the country.

I think having morals, values and beliefs that weigh on the side of goodness, kindness, peacefulness and prosperity are a MUST; whether or not a person is a Christian should not play into whether a person would be a good leader.

I consider myself to be a Christian. God has been very good to me. I have been blessed many times over. My family has experienced miracles that are beyond medical explanation. I believe, in my heart of hearts, God has always provided me with the proof I need to know I’m doing what he would have me do.

I have 2 signs that hang in my house. I appreciate when visitors read them and understand the clear message I wish to convey with them. They do have a purpose!

Sign 1 – Remember How Blessed You Are (I don’t need anyone force-feeding their beliefs on me to make sure I make it to the front of the "Been Blessed" line.

Sign 2 – You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips – I believe in leading by example not cramming what I believe down the throats of others.

My Bible commands me to love my neighbors, brothers and sisters – it commands me not to judge – it gives me comfort in letting me know it’s up to me to find my own salvation.

I believe every Christian has their own convictions (that little voice inside that tells you when something is wrong). Aside from the obvious commandments of not killing, stealing, etc. – I believe with all that I am, when a Christian strays from their own convictions, yes it’s wrong and it would be a sin.

I have a relative who thinks wearing jeans, makeup and cutting hair is a sin. I believe it would be, for HER. For me it is not. God did not put that conviction in my heart and I feel no guilt or shame when I throw on a pair of jeans, cut my hair or apply my makeup. That lack of guilt is what tells me I’m good with God!

This relative is quite vocal in letting me know she doesn’t think she’ll see me in Heaven because of this -  I on the other hand told her I’d save her a seat.

There is a HUGE difference between preaching/teaching the gospel and imposing your own set of convictions on others. I think that’s where a lot of Christian’s get confused.

Spreading the gospel is about spreading love, peace and all that is good. Not once, throughout the Bible, do you read of how Jesus force-fed his beliefs to another. He lead a righteous life. He would teach. He would answer questions. He would embrace others. 

Jesus NEVER flew off in a fit of emotional rage, as if to somehow seize control over the mind of another and shift their belief to align perfectly with his.

Have something to add? Leave a comment – I’d love for you to share your thoughts.

First let’s flashback to 2009 – Gilberto Sanchez, the 49-year-old New York man who uploaded a copy of Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine to MegaUpload in March 2009, did so a full month before it hit theaters. Sanchez — was sentenced December 19, to a year in federal prison. Sanchez went on to promote the digital upload on other websites.

Personally, I think he should have gotten much more time.

Now, consider, for just a moment, what impact this single act had.

Hollywood is Not So Glamorous

If you’ve never been on a movie set during filming or observed what it takes to make a half-hour weekly sitcom, I can assure you, it’s not all glitz and glamour.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to attend a taping of Just Shoot Me staring David Spade, Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Wendie Malick, and Enrico Colantoni

Going in, thought I’d be there a couple of hours; would see the glamour of Hollywood firsthand, leave and grab some lunch. Quite the contrary. What I encountered was hours, upon hours of take after take. NINE hours to be exact.

That day I developed a new level of respect for entertainers and what they go through to deliver their products to us week after week, film after film. I would imagine other forms of entertainment are somewhat similar, and not quite as glamorous as the world would think.

Who Does Piracy Really Hurt?

The next time you watch a movie or sitcom; the next time you pick up a music CD, take a few minutes to observe the credits. The names and businesses you see listed are the hardworking people who rely on the sales of that product to support their families. It’s not just the big named stars you see walking the Red Carpet, it’s the personal assistants, the gophers, the stagehands, set builders, and so many more who are paid a working wage we could more easily relate to. Take a quick look at the full cast and credits of Slumdog Millionaire, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Pirating, as far as I’m concerned, can easily be compared to a single act of hacking the bank accounts and stealing the paychecks of all those responsible for developing the product that’s been illegally copied. While on the surface the act of copying and sharing may seem small; but under the surface the destruction spreads like a cancer.  This clown shared tips on how to get a MegaUpload and Rapidshare premium membership for free.

Ironically, he was telling how to pirate from the pirate. Funny, but it’s still not right.

I’ve not one ounce of respect or sympathy for MegaUpload founder Kim Schlitz (aka Kim Dotcom) – Anyone placing vanity plates on their ultra expensive, luxury cars that read: ‘MAFIA’, ‘HACKER’, ‘STONED’, ‘V’ (for Vendetta?), ‘KIM COM’, ‘CEO’ and ‘POLICE’ – well, to me that just oozes of “I know I’m up to no good.”

Protecting Copyrights & Trademarks – Whose Job is it Anyway?

I believe companies, brands and individuals have every right to protect their trademark, copyright and services. They also have every right to file suit against those who purposely, intentionally and willfully steal and distribute their protected materials.  I would think it’s FAR easier for the owner of a copyright or trademark.

Don’t we all get monthly bank statements? Isn’t it our place to make sure our accounts are in order and report stolen debit cards or unauthorized transactions? If companies are losing so much money to piracy – it seems it would be in their best interest to pay a handful of employees or freelancing Internet professionals to serve as gatekeepers or watchdogs to their brand. Kind of like monitoring a bank account.

Mass Internet Censorship

The recent uproar over SOPA and PIPA have captured the eyes and ears of people who hadn’t paid much attention to piracy and it’s impact, and likely wouldn’t have, had the anti-SOPA campaign not made such an “in your face” statement on Wednesday when the Internet went black.

By exposing the potential threats of sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter being shut down; the threat SOPA and PIPA posed was delivered to the front doorstep of all internet users. It became clear that every internet user, big and small, would somehow be affected by Internet Censorship. People listened; the world responded.

Piracy is a Problem Just Like Anything Else

Fact is, piracy is a problem. There are a few high profile websites that cater and pander piracy crimes. Those sites are making big waves, creating choppy waters the rest of us are left to deal with. However, I believe it’s the obligation of our government and the officials WE voted for to protect the voters first, not corporations, publishers, record labels, or brands.

More on the Takedown of MegaUpload

I’ve been caught up in reading the endless stream of news surrounding the MegaUpload takedown. I thought I’d save you time by sharing what I’ve found most interesting.

Megaupload.com Gets Hit by Mega Piracy Indictment; Hackers Attack Feds, Entertainment Industry

Downfall: Photos Of MegaUpload Founder’s Valuable Cars Getting Seized – Notice the giraffe’s shown in the second photo – toward the upper left. Seriously! smh

The Mega empire: Details of the MegaUpload indictment

Alleged Crimes: criminal copyright infringement and racketeering. The full indictment posted online.

Images and story behind renowned German hacker, playboy, Megavideo titan Kim Schlitz, a.k.a. Kimble, Kim Dotcom – known to the moral world as Sleaze ball Extraordinaire. Grab a barf-bag, you’ll want one handy.

More on the history of Kim Schlitz, previous crimes, and a lovely picture of his chubby face and middle finger to boot.

Got an opinion on MegaUpload? SOPA? Piracy? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Dear Senator Lugar and Senator Coats:

I have been an Internet professional since 1999. Since that time, my life has been positively affected by the Internet. I have raised my twin boys, as a single parent since 1997 with no help from their father. The Internet made it possible for me to work from home while being a 24/7 hands-on mother to my kids. Not once did I have to rely on my fellow taxpayers to provide for my kids! Thanks to the Internet.

I was disappointed when Indiana adopted the “Amazon Tax” which I believe is our Government cutting off their nose to spite their face. Self employed Internet Marketers pay a much higher tax on their income than the 7% sales tax that will be collected. Now I have a personal stake in the passage of the SOPA bill and I refuse to set by quietly without making my voice heard. This bill poses a direct threat to the growing number of entrepreneurs, and people who’ve found ways to earn money online to help provide for their families; a pivotal option at a time when the jobless rates are consistently high.

Passing these types of laws only hurt our economy by destroying income options for individuals and small businesses that have sprung forth in the wake of economical downturn.

This new piece of legislation by powerful industry groups like the RIAA and the MPAA aim to stifle free exchange and flow of ideas that has allowed many people — myself included — to change the course of their lives. It is essentially unenforceable and dibilitates the spirit of collaboration that allowed creative and driven individuals to make the Internet the thriving, global, decentralized entity that it is today.

Media has discussed how large corporations are using their money to shape policy and legislation to their benefit. Their interest is greedy and selfish. This will stifle a growing business and economically fruitful trend among American’s.

Indiana politicians, you included, often talk about bringing jobs to Indiana – supporting small business – encouraging entrepreneurship. As you well know, Indianapolis is a growing hub for technology and innovation. Hoosier residents have developed technology that has helped mold the Internet into the super resource it is today. SOPA would literally kill the ability for thousands of small companies and individuals to express themselves freely and make their living on the web — all so greedy corporations could keep more money in their own pockets.

It’s common knowledge that lawmakers and leaders of our country receive sizeable amounts of funding from lobbying groups promoting bills such as this. People like me — and there are many (and growing) in the state of Indiana — will be watching closely to see how our local government votes on this issue.

If you truly support the best interest of American individuals, small businesses and entrepreneurs then you’ll vote against this type of censorship.

Sincerely,

Gayla Baer-Taylor – @Gayla

Note to Fellow Internet Professionals:

Let your voice be heard – AmericanCensorship.org

Before you begin reading the following opinion – I’d like to make it VERY clear that I take GREAT pride in my right to vote. I have not EVER voted a straight ticket. I am a TRUE middle-of-the-road kind of girl who actually DOES her homework by researching EVERY candidate during an election. My votes are cast for the person, not the party. If I don’t know a name on a ballot, I don’t vote in that category at all.

Frankly, I think anyone who casts a straight ticket that includes votes for names they don’t know is wasting their vote and taking a very lazy approach to their RIGHT as an American.

Point to Ponder:

How beautiful would the American Flag be if it were only Red OR Blue? It’s the perfect combination of RED, WHITE & BLUE that makes it so truly magnificent! ~ Gayla Baer-Taylor

No matter how you slice it, healthcare in the United States if broken – at least for the "average" American.

• Medical care costs WAY to much.
• Prescriptions cost WAY to much.
• Private Insurance costs WAY to much.

I’m not going to pretend to know everything about Obama Care. What I do know is IF it’s an option that prevents insurance companies from rejecting someone for a pre-existing condition – I‘m for it!

IF it makes it easier and more affordable for people to get and maintain coverage – I’m for it!

Insurance is the biggest racket on the planet! You know it. I know it!

In my case, I have recently been on BOTH sides of the coverage fence.

With insurance I go to the doctor for $70. This was the rate negotiated with my "IN Network" (that right there should be enough to tell everyone with a brain that docs and insurance companies are in bed together)

Without insurance I go to the doctor for the SAME visit and it costs $120.

Same doctor. Same service. Different price.

WTF is up with THAT?

If we’re not going to have FREE healthcare (which obviously Obama Care is NOT FREE) then the pricing schedules should be consistent. Having insurance coverage is NOT a freaking discount card, it’s supposed to be coverage.

Sure, there are things I really don’t like about Obama Care – like the fact that illegal immigrants have access to better healthcare than many American’s WITH JOBS – Who PAY taxes and who are raising the next generation of taxpayers. And I REALLY dislike people who see making babies as a viable career option making use of MY hard earned money to account for their welfare paycheck. But there’s bloodsuckers everywhere you go.

Prime example – Big Wall Street bonuses in a time of economic turmoil. *insert vomiting/gagging noise here*

BUT have we ever seen a system that is 100% effective? Really?

Doesn’t it make MORE sense to err on the side of saving AMERICAN lives than on the side of shunning our fellow American and condemning them to a life of pain, suffering, and sometimes death just because their condition is considered PRE-Existing?

Instead of fighting so hard to overturn Obama Care –

Why not stand behind the movement to boycott companies who employ illegal’s for slave wages?

Why not stand behind the movement to rid our companies of shady union practices? Not so much unions as a whole, but the shady practices have got to go!

Why not stand behind a movement that boycotts businesses where the CEO gets a hefty bonus when he’s just laid off 10,000 workers?

Why not stand behind a movement that holds people accountable for their own choices and decisions instead of letting them flood our court systems with frivolous lawsuits?

Coffee is HOT people! Handle with care! If you don’t want to risk getting burned, Don’t. Drink. Coffee!

And to get a lot more local here – Ah hem – Hello, Knightstown Indiana!

Why not stand behind a movement that would prevent school systems from building bigger better schools, brand new, fancy-schmancy superintendents office and posh multi-million dollar football field when the sizes of classes are SHRINKING instead of growing (i.e. people moving out of district because of the ever increasing taxes). When I lived in the opposite corner of this SAME county, my taxes were HALF what they are here – and the area was much more populated. Hmmm makes one think!

If the heads of communities want bigger and better "things" then the focus MUST be on being a community that attracts members, not drives them away because of higher taxes and leaders with Champagne taste!

/climbing off my soapbox 

Please do leave a comment expressing your opinion. NO name calling – NO flaming – just a coming together of minds with a focus on a greater good – not on attacking one another.