Comments on: 30 things any would-be politician should do this summer (Part I) http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:55:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Belinda Brooks-Gordon http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94305 Belinda Brooks-Gordon Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:50:21 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94305 I would also like to see all PPCs and current MPs a) spend a night or at least visit a prison and speak to inmates, b) have a basic knowledge of science, stats, and then do a systematic review on subject of their choice. That way they would see the flaws in more of the half-baked reports landing on their desks. c) use public transport for at least a month. Issue also being debated in Independent Letters see 'The business of being an MP' http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-jacksons-child-victims-1732773.html I would also like to see all PPCs and current MPs a) spend a night or at least visit a prison and speak to inmates, b) have a basic knowledge of science, stats, and then do a systematic review on subject of their choice. That way they would see the flaws in more of the half-baked reports landing on their desks. c) use public transport for at least a month.

Issue also being debated in Independent Letters see ‘The business of being an MP’
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-jacksons-child-victims-1732773.html

]]> By: Mark Pack http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94302 Mark Pack Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:58:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94302 And there I was Tony, thinking I'd put together a list which across the 30 gives a balance of different activities. Ah well, being called random by you is one of the nicer things you've said :-) On canvassing - of course, having a purpose is important, but so is simply the idea that politics involves talking to people on the doorstep, rather than slipping into bad habits from day one that campaigning = leafleting and not much else. Getting into the habit of going out and talking to people is a pretty good piece of advice, I think. And there I was Tony, thinking I’d put together a list which across the 30 gives a balance of different activities. Ah well, being called random by you is one of the nicer things you’ve said :-)

On canvassing – of course, having a purpose is important, but so is simply the idea that politics involves talking to people on the doorstep, rather than slipping into bad habits from day one that campaigning = leafleting and not much else. Getting into the habit of going out and talking to people is a pretty good piece of advice, I think.

]]> By: Herbert Brown http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94300 Herbert Brown Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:19:01 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94300 "Really, if you want to be a politician you should get stuck in and do political things according to taste and ignore random ticklists." If only people would just do as they were told! “Really, if you want to be a politician you should get stuck in and do political things according to taste and ignore random ticklists.”

If only people would just do as they were told!

]]> By: Tony Greaves http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94299 Tony Greaves Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:13:38 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94299 Hmmm. There seems to be a confusion between "a politician" and "an elected public official". You can be the first without being the second. The best advice is on a local grot spot. "A"??? "Go canvassing"? I am in favour of knocking on doors and having discussions with people. (I was doing it yesterday morning). But you need a reason to do it and just "canvassing" is too often a sterile and morally barren activity. Really, if you want to be a politician you should get stuck in and do political things according to taste and ignore random ticklists. Tony Greaves Hmmm. There seems to be a confusion between “a politician” and “an elected public official”. You can be the first without being the second.

The best advice is on a local grot spot. “A”???

“Go canvassing”? I am in favour of knocking on doors and having discussions with people. (I was doing it yesterday morning). But you need a reason to do it and just “canvassing” is too often a sterile and morally barren activity.

Really, if you want to be a politician you should get stuck in and do political things according to taste and ignore random ticklists.

Tony Greaves

]]> By: Simon http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94298 Simon Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:04:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94298 Obviously not grammar! 'essentially' should real 'essential'. Obviously not grammar! ‘essentially’ should real ‘essential’.

]]> By: Simon http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94297 Simon Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:03:27 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94297 A basic knowledge of economics is pretty essentially. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memos-President-Through-Macroeconomics-Policymaker/dp/0815777779/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246917925&sr=8-1 and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peddling-Prosperity-Economic-Diminished-Expectations/dp/0393312925/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246917948&sr=1-1 are pretty good places to start A basic knowledge of economics is pretty essentially.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0815777779/?tag=libdemvoice-21
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0393312925/?tag=libdemvoice-21

are pretty good places to start

]]> By: Benjamin http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94277 Benjamin Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:41:57 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94277 WCT - It's not the paperclips per se, it's having to become familiar with a topic that you have no underlying interest or knowledge of. WCT – It’s not the paperclips per se, it’s having to become familiar with a topic that you have no underlying interest or knowledge of.

]]> By: Sara http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94275 Sara Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:37:33 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94275 Spend half a day in a court observing a trial or two. I was able to do this last summer (and autumn) thanks to the criminal activities of the then Conservative parliamentary candidate for Watford, Ian Oakley. Looking at the list, I only currently have 4&5 to achieve! Spend half a day in a court observing a trial or two.

I was able to do this last summer (and autumn) thanks to the criminal activities of the then Conservative parliamentary candidate for Watford, Ian Oakley.

Looking at the list, I only currently have 4&5 to achieve!

]]> By: Working Class Tory http://www.libdemvoice.org/30-things-any-wouldbe-politician-should-do-this-summer-15558.html#comment-94274 Working Class Tory Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:36:29 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15558#comment-94274 Not sure how the paperclips are relevant, no offence, but you could have found 30 good things without the paperclip point. Good suggestion about canvassing, council meetings and attending court - all sound ideas that would leave wannabees with a good initial grounding. Not sure how the paperclips are relevant, no offence, but you could have found 30 good things without the paperclip point.

Good suggestion about canvassing, council meetings and attending court – all sound ideas that would leave wannabees with a good initial grounding.

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