want to get into Politics eventually but right now, I plan on going to law school. Right now I'm majoring in Economics and minoring in Philosophy. Politicians don't need political science to be a good politician, do they?
Knowledge of economics and philosophy could both be very useful if you're looking at going into politics. You may want to check to see what the reading lists are for courses in poli sci at the school, however, and see whether you can get your hands on any copies courtesy of a school library, from amazon.com, or otherwise by accessing the scholarly sources your university makes available online. Political science does not make or break a politician, but I would strongly recommend your learn a bit from the field and, if you plan on rising to the federal level, set aside time to study international relations as well.
You don't need to know that much, the most important thing to be a good politician is to understand that politics/politicians use lots of ideology (tricks, terminology, labels, deception, so well done that you don't notice, because it all sounds logical, but most reversed, all by ideology (near invisible, a trained mind can see what ideology does) A good politician is aware of all these things that are going on today (since the last hundred fifty years) Doesn't require that much study. What does require lots of study is the political terminology, political science, but that (tricks, labels, terms) is almost all deception (masterminded) That's why a good politician separates ideology from politicial science. But to see ideology requires years of experience and training (by watching videoclips of politicians, and not listen to the words politicians speak but see (penetrate through) their delusive message), to see what is deception and what is logic and what is solving things instead of causing problems/resistance for/in people.
Actually, there is a system for entering politics. All areas have clubs and organizations dedicated to their own party or affiliation. I belong to the Democratic Club of Moreno Valley (CA). There are clubs for all parties you just have to go online. While I have no intention of running for public office I am a Delegate for the state conventions and a member of the local and regional Central Committees. We are the farm teams for new candidates, we find them, we train them, we support them and work on their elections. It is always best that the candidate have name recognition on a local election so walking the neighborhoods is always good. If you don't in a local setting the candidate with the most signs will win, simple as that. You start in offices like councilman, school board or utility board, offices that people will see you in. Your join related caucus', Union caucus, ADA caucus, Native American, Black, LBGT, Progressive, Business or Environmental caucus. Get your name out there, get quoted in the local paper or online on your local "Patch". Tweet, FB and all social media is good especially in close-knit communities. You get donations from business, unions and focus groups registered with the elections committee to be legal as possible. In the end, if you want high office, political science is handy for knowing macro organization and who to hire for handling your campaign, and more important, you will have to believe in your agenda and what is right for your constituents.
I don't know. I have seen one that has ever studied it. It would seem like a good idea. That way they might actually have some idea of where their ideologies come from. If you're a conservative your roots go back to Edmund Burke and the Anti-Enlightenment. If your a Liberal they back to Thomas Paine and the Enlightenment. It's probably a good idea to get a grasp of what they had to say. If you're a libertarian, then learn who Robert Nozik was.
Philosophy is a good place to find out where you're coming from and that usually takes in the study of Logic which would be enormously helpful in making your arguments and defending them. I would definitely study law and poli-sci so you know what you're talking about. Economics is pretty tricky since it can't figure out if it's getting you a BA or a BS degree. It depends on the school. It's easy to latch onto today's Economic Reductionist theories by Hayek and others. They're popular today but terribly flawed. I've always left economics to economists. That's their specialty. Not Law, and that interests me a lot more. Combine that with philosophy, and logic, and you can determine what is going to work best for people which is the point of politics. Logic, even informal logic will help you determine the validity of a philosophical argument. Makes you an effective debater.
The Perfect Democrat ,Gay Black Unionist Liberal Business Man that ,says a lot really. What an expression of the decaying Middle class.cheers I thought the Slave Owners Party the Democrats had Substance. No Democrat Party ,No US Imperialism . You make my Communist heart cheer with ,TO EASY! The black guy in the Village people should run as the Next Candidate . http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/ii321/chantimo/bth_Village-People.jpg In fact I think the Village People have all bases covered. Definitely more entertaining then Obama and his Crony Capitalist mates, and they can have a good Election song still in them.
I would've assumed poli-sci would be included in your electives at law school...I often thought politicians in generally a vastly under-qualified for their jobs... I'm in favour of politicians meeting a job criteria just as any other professional position....my requirements would include a mandatory double degree, any two of these three- Law, Poli-sci or Economics with strong electives in history and philosophy... but that'll never happen but you've got a better base than 99% of politicians
It helps. What matters the most is simply being who you are and doing what you believe in. Be confident and walk with purpose.