[Busman747]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I think politics should be taught in schools (I've probably said this way too many times now and am getting boring about it). But I don't mean in the big, national picture way, but how politics impacts on everyone's life. People don't think politics is anything to do with them but tell them that it's about which schools are doing well, how the roads are resurfaced and when the new shopping centre will be built and it all becomes relevant. If they knew this from an earlier age it wouldn't be such a huge thing to pay attention come election time. Trouble is finding someone who could teach it without being biaised.

I understand what you are saying Gayle, but all politicians are treated with distrust by the majority of people - - and rightly so! Don't misunderstand me, most climb the first rung of the ladder with big ideals, they want to change the country into the utopia that they envision, but enthusiasm wears off, they accept "gifts," get friendly with "large consortiums." etc etc.

Our present Prime Minister and most if not all of the cabinet are regularly in the papers showing their prowess at making "black" money through their positions as ministers voted in by US!

Politicians that you can trust? Anthony Wedgewood Benn, for turning down his Queens Award for what ever it was - - but he was too left for me, Maggie Thatcher, admired her grit and determination, but too far right for me, No one else left to hold up as an icon and say: "This politician had the country in his/her thoughts and fought tooth and nail to give peace and prosperity to the people that elected me." The kids know this, they learnt it off their parents (one of the few things that parents taught them)

As for teaching in schools, there are two choices. Either indocrinate them into fields such as being "Politically Correct" so that they can earn a good living by saying the "right" things - - and their spouses can become part of a quango for extra income, - - or train them to become an acress/actor so that they can address thousands of people without nerves and spout a load of verbal off the top of their head.

As a budding politician Gayle, I assume that you have this particular skill of addressing small/medium/large groups of people without your voice shaking - - good for you, but I think that you will find that the majority of people shudder to be in the limelight and would be lucky to put a few words together that make any sense. So why teach politics to a class of thirty(without political bias) when only one or two are blessed with the art of oration? and at least one of those will go into business rather than politics!!

What I am saying is that both you and Cyfr have skills that make you into potential politicians but it is NOT a skill that is taught in school, it is a natural skill - - and that is why you do what you do.