<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 85205" data-quote="thechosen1" data-source="post: 951309"
class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-title">
<a href="/community/goto/post?id=951309"
class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump"
rel="nofollow"
data-xf-click="attribution"
data-content-selector="#post-951309">thechosen1 said:</a>
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent ">
I waste so much time arguing about politics, that I’m considering just running for office sooner than later.<br />
<br />
It is discouraging and it seems like a person can do so little.<br />
<br />
But, at risk of being super cheesy, the little things a person does can echo and change the world.<br />
<br />
This goes with the internal locus of control.<br />
<br />
I almost believe that the world is a self fulfilling prophecy. If we start saying “America is a free country”, perhaps it will be. And this goes for every country.<br />
<br />
But at the very least...we can do our best. In small ways. Every day.<br />
<br />
Maybe the right approach is to shoot the bird at them and walk away. I want to do it as bad as everyone here. But maybe that doesn’t really work either. Maybe you can leave while still trying to have a positive effect on the world.<br />
<br />
I am not criticizing or taking a side, just suggesting some ideas and thoughts.<br />
<br />
Also don’t discount the thought that some states could try to separate. It is a long shot, but could be a good way to save the good parts of the body from its rotting parts.
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote>Here’s my issue with running… And you know I have considered it…<br />
<br />
What do you want? What policies are you going to push for? It doesn’t matter what they are, but for me it’s taxation. The black hole of a government, that does nothing I actually want, getting half of the value I put in to the world, is modern day slavery, and every minute I spend working 6 months of the year to pay them, life gets further and further sucked out of me.<br />
<br />
So I want no more than 4% income taxes and 0% capital gains. Perfectly defined.<br />
<br />
So I have two options…<br />
<br />
Run for office and “be the change I want.” So I run for Congress and spend tons of time, money, and effort to MAYBE win. Most don’t, and their journey ends here. Let’s just say I win. Now I am fighting my peers in Congress for my agenda in a zero sum game with other congressmen. Most don’t get what they want, but let’s just say, after the give and take, we temporarily lower the income tax rate 3 percent for 2 years, and raise sales tax for the privilege. I pat myself on the back for my “hard work” over the better part of a decade, and a “win” feels good. (This is seriously how it goes.)<br />
<br />
A decade of working on something you have very little influence on, lowered the federal income tax rate to 34 percent from 37. Capital gains is left for another day. And sales tax is up a percent and a half. Are your problems with America now fixed? Nope.<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
I can put my belongings in a container, buy a plane ticket to Puerto Rico, and have the actual tax cut that I wanted all along, in a week.<br />
<br />
One is so much deeper within my control it’s not even funny. Believing that through involvement in politics, I could actually change this place, was one of the most external locus beliefs I have ever held. It was just a different way to put my hopes and dreams of a better life in the government.</div>
