Politicians still have a lot of power in our society, so it’s one way to create change.
Given what you wrote about your background I think there’s a good change that you currently don’t have a good source about how people become politicians in Germany.
German politics differs from US politics in that money isn’t central for becoming a job as a politician. What’s central is how the people who go to the meetings of the party for which you want to be elected see you.
If you want to become a politician it’s good to join one of the parties that has representatives in your state (Bundesland) early and participate in discussions.
There’s a lot of tension between moving to the views that the other people in your party have which is partly necessary to be accepted and seen as trustworthy and then contributing your own views. If you have detailed ideas and write them up in a motion and the other people support that motion that’s one of the ways to earn an reputation as someone valuable to have around. Depending on the local enviroment it can also be very important with whom you build relationships in addition to your general reputation for being thoughtful.
You’re right—I don’t have even half as much of a clue about the whole process as I’d like to have, yet. I very much appreciate that you took the time to explain the basics to me.
Looking for reasonably reliable sources, joining a party, and building a certain reputation there should be extremely high on my list of priorities right now. I’ll be looking to check them off as soon as possible.
Politicians still have a lot of power in our society, so it’s one way to create change.
Given what you wrote about your background I think there’s a good change that you currently don’t have a good source about how people become politicians in Germany.
German politics differs from US politics in that money isn’t central for becoming a job as a politician. What’s central is how the people who go to the meetings of the party for which you want to be elected see you.
If you want to become a politician it’s good to join one of the parties that has representatives in your state (Bundesland) early and participate in discussions.
There’s a lot of tension between moving to the views that the other people in your party have which is partly necessary to be accepted and seen as trustworthy and then contributing your own views. If you have detailed ideas and write them up in a motion and the other people support that motion that’s one of the ways to earn an reputation as someone valuable to have around. Depending on the local enviroment it can also be very important with whom you build relationships in addition to your general reputation for being thoughtful.
You’re right—I don’t have even half as much of a clue about the whole process as I’d like to have, yet. I very much appreciate that you took the time to explain the basics to me.
Looking for reasonably reliable sources, joining a party, and building a certain reputation there should be extremely high on my list of priorities right now. I’ll be looking to check them off as soon as possible.
Thanks a lot!
Maybe this overview over some career paths in German politics is helpful: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7FqszSxJ6NHBcZ7nW/report-on-careers-in-politics-and-policy-in-germany
It is! Thank you!