My name's Jay, and I'm new to this forum, how's everybody doing?

With that said, I just graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey with a degree in Political Science. I spent the last few months working in the Casino business in Atlantic City, NJ, planning to work there for the long haul. Recent events have changed that plan.

Any ideas which direction I should head down? I want to be, and would be a great, politician. However, my family isn't rich (usually a requirement), and I don't want to go to law school (most politicians do). So maybe you guys can help.

Your thoughts?

Congrats on your degree.

You will need to find a way to support yourself while you get involved in local politics. If you are going to try to run for elected office, you will have to do a LOT of volunteer work for your party. Before you even get your party's support for school board or city council, you will have to work a lot of hours doing menial work for people you don't know.

Without rich parents, you will have to "get your name out there" the hard way (and the tedious way). Of course, if you have the interest and the motivation, in time you may achieve what you want.

Good luck.

Jay,

Congrats, you've shown you have the ability to learn and retain information, and that you can adhere yourself to long term goals. Now I'd begin by digging trenches or other manual construction work for a local contractor. Work your way into the office to learn more of the business side. 5-7 years down the road, you will have been given an education 10x that which college provided. You will know in your heart that you can handle any situation and have an inner pride that you have truly worked hard for what you have. This will give you the backbone later in life to respectably pursue your leadership goals.

Just one man's 2 cents,

old-SouL

DBG, it amazes me that you love to espouse communistic ideals, but scoff at the idea of a respectable living in labor. You have not learned, either due to your sex, personality, or both, that the man/woman in a meeting with the most calouses on their hands will command and receive the greatest respect.

One of the major problems with politicians these days, particularly in the most "progressive" states, is that they have not been forced to make an honest living. You cannot represent the people if you have not walked in their shoes. And you cannot understand how to regulate business if you have not been in business. Of course I speak in general terms. But how can one graduate college, go straight into a government job, and claim to be representative of the people?

Do you speak any foreign languages?

If so, there are many oppurtunities in government work such as the CIA or FBI, but the one I find interesting is the State Department, If you are looking to get into politics, it won't hurt to get some experience in foreign relations which you would get @ the state dep. as a foreign officer. If you don't know a foreign language, it may help to learn one (i.e. Arabic, farsi, kurdish, Pashto, Dari, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean). Coming from an intelligence field background I can tell you these languages have a bright future. Plus if you decide at some point to go into the private sector, there is very good money in interpretation.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

often requires a high security clearance, which can be difficult to get. Often they hire many ex-military people. But if you CAN get a clearance, which requires an in depth background check, you can do a lot of with it. Government work is pretty secure.

I have many family members who work for the government. Most of them also used to be in the military because it is such a good segway into government contract work. But I know that now is not the greatest time for anyone to enlist, lol.

You would actually be surprised that it is not all that difficult to get a clearance. I knew plenty of people when I was in the Army who had certain things in their past and still got a clearance. there are different levels of security clearances and probably would not need a very high one to get an entry level job with the Gov't.PLus, the Gov't is hurting for qualified people right now.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

is that it helps a lot to have been in the military before, because a lot of ex-military personnel already have clearances. But you are probably right, it isn't all that difficult. I do think it costs some money to get a clearance, however. You have to pay for someone to do a background check and push the paperwork around, etc..

I have a TS clearance and I didn't pay for it. I've never heard of that before. Usually when you apply for a job, the employer is the one who checks your background. At least that is what I have seen.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower