How do I start learning about politics?

[Toadie2018]

I want to gain a grasp of politics and political ideologies, but I'm not sure where to start. Should I learn the ideologies first, such as conservative, libertarian, socialist, etc. or the structure of government first? Also, do you know any good sources to use that would give a comprehensive explanation? 

Thanks

[Preety_India]

 

Channels like David Pakman:

The majority report with Sam Seder 

The humanist report 

Secular talk

The rational national 

The progressive voice 

Bit different ones:

Robert Reich

Some more news

John Oliver

Trevor Noah

Vaush 

Empire files

Vice

The young Turks

Beau of the fifth column 

Contra points 

 

Reference thread 

 

Btw I like your name Toadie. It's too funny. 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Preety_India

[No Self]

 

[Village]

don't see why you'd want to

8 hours ago, Preety_India said:

 

Channels like David Pakman:

The majority report with Sam Seder 

The humanist report 

Secular talk

The rational national 

The progressive voice 

Bit different ones:

Robert Reich

Some more news

John Oliver

Trevor Noah

Vaush 

Empire files

Vice

The young Turks

Beau of the fifth column 

Contra points 

 

Reference thread 

 

Btw I like your name Toadie. It's too funny. 

I believe he asked for an overarching understanding of different political ideologies, not for the leftie starter pack.

Edited October 10, 2020 by Village

[commie]

9 hours ago, Toadie2018 said:

I want to gain a grasp of politics and political ideologies, but I'm not sure where to start.

There are two approaches that are known to work (and work best when combined):

a) learn by doing (that is, do political work with people which have different ideologies)

b) history (not what you learn in school or Internet drivel but detail-oriented professional books as well as historical documents including of course old books in which dead people expound on their dated ideologies)

9 hours ago, Toadie2018 said:

Also, do you know any good sources to use that would give a comprehensive explanation?

I know that there is no such thing.

The level of delusion typically involved in people's thinking about political ideologies is amazing.

[Preety_India]

@Village  I suggested him what I watch. Others can suggest him the right garbage pack.. Then it will be equal.. 

1 hour ago, Village said:

don't see why you'd want to

I believe he asked for an overarching understanding of different political ideologies, not for the leftie starter pack.

 

[commie]

Garbage doesn't balance garbage. It's just more garbage.

More importantly, there's more that unites the contemporary gringo left and the contemporary gringo right that sets them apart. You'd get basically the same thing if you watched stuff coming from both sides of the same coin.

I don't mean to say you've suggested nothing of value. Contrapoints for instance is of course not garbage. But if something truly isn't worth watching, there's no way to get back the time you've invested in it. And if you've been misled, you're most likely not going to be set right simply by watching something something coming from another part of the same political spectrum.

[Yog]

A good start is to get very familiar with western philosophy, literature and psychology in the last couple of centuries.

Get a good grasp on them. There are a lot of great thinkers. Read at least 1-2 books from the greatest. Read the post modernists last. Be sure to read diverse literature.

You need to have a good grasp on human nature and existential questions before being able to delve into politics. If you do not have a good grasp on them and do the "straight" political stuff. You will probably end up crusading and being stuck in some of the "camps". Political stuff is extremely sticky.

Here are some names that ring a bell:

Aldous Huxley
George Orwell
Friedrich Nietzsche
Viktor Frankl
Carl Jung
Dostoevsky
Carl Jung
Freud
Chomsky
Schopenhauer
Kant
Nietzsche
Foucault
Derrida
Jacques Lacan
Martin Heidegger

There are more ofc

 This will take years. You might as well spend most of your time on really developing yourself via direct practice and implementation. That will be the main pillar. I would take this as a side thing. These are my 2 cents mate.

Edited October 10, 2020 by Yog

[GroovyGuru]

@Husseinisdoingfine This link isn’t working but I’d really love to see this list!

[Heart of Space]

Honestly, the best way, the way I'd recommend is to just pick an issue you personally care about.  Go learn the arguments on both sides in depth.  Debate with people about the subject.  You'll probably naturally branch out from there.  

What's something in the world today you personally care about?

[ivory]

@Toadie2018 I'd start with high level concepts in summary form and read the news consistently until you start seeing patterns and familiarize yourself with terminology. Some suggested that you start by digging deep but I disagree with that approach. Start simple then follow your curiosity to deepen your understanding of the topics that interest you.

 

If I could go back in time I'd use a road-map that looked something like this:

• Left vs Right-wing politics (liberal vs conservative)
• Socialism vs Capitalism
• Limitations and issues relating to health care, education, economics, equality, environment
• USA vs European politics
• Nordic politics

 

[JohnnyRocket]

American politics is no more critical to your survival than the WWF. Forget about it.