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Evan Prodromou asked:
How much time per week are you willing to devote to political participation?
This is a hard question to answer for me because I look at this from a political science perspective, which is what I studied in high school and at university.
I dislike the typical factions and deal-making that goes on behind the scenes that is more related to who you know and who is most powerful, rather than what is the right thing to do. I also dislike mob rule and witch hunts, which usually devolves into targeting or harming innocent people.
But I do like creating systems and promoting principles that are fair and that empower and protect people. Prosperity and freedom for all.
But simply promoting such systems and principles becomes political because most people operate on an "us versus them" mindset, or a "what's in it for me" mindset. That, and the fact that a large percentage of people don't want something fair (despite their claims); what they really want is something that benefits them and the people they support, regardless of how it affects their opponents or rivals.
If we are talking about creating systems and upholding principles for all, then 100% of the time. Almost everything I do has this interwoven into it.
If we are talking "playing politics," I tend to avoid that part of it since it often devolves into power plays and punishing ones enemies rather than building something fair and good and effective and prosperous for all. Although I do understand that is part of the game, and am willing to be the "diplomat" that tries to get people back to what is important, which are principles that serve everyone, not just one faction or another.
If we are talking advocacy, if I did not have to work to make money to pay the bills, I'd spent as much time as possible advocating for empowering principles that are designed for everyone to succeed. But for some reason, grocery stores don't take volunteer work as payment. If anyone who has deep pockets want to fund me, let's talk (joking; not joking).
But, back to your question. I would be willing to spend nearly all of my time on politics, depending on how you define politics. And in some ways, I already do. It just that, usually, it does not look political since it is based on principles, not factions.
Probably way more than you were asking about, but I did find the question a good exercise on clarifying the role of politics in a person's life, including my own.
