How do develop political opinion?

I'm a libertarian and this is largely based on my personality. I'm easy-going, and don't really give a **** what others do provided it's not hurting me or anybody I care about.

I think most base their politics on their personality or upbringing. I think by and large people are socialists for instance because they grew up in poor households or face disadvantages. Not saying everybody is like that (Tony Benn and Tony Blair didn't grow up in poverty), but then it's just an example.

Here's a rough starting point at least as far as economics is concerned:

1. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their status and money?
2..Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their productivity?
3. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their effort?
4. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their needs?

1. Probably conservatism of some kind.
2. Probably liberalism of some kind.
3. Probably socialism of some kind.
4. Probably Marxist of some kind.

The problem with this is it's just not true. Conservatives do not just think people should mostly be awarded according to their status, and becoming a Marxist or socialist (unless you support a mixed economy) does nothing but bend reality to your views.

As far as a distinction between 'conservatism' and 'liberalism' is concerned, in economic terms at least, the distinction is reasonably informative, though in recent decades conservatism has been heavily influenced by economic liberalism I'll grant you.

The rest of your paragraph is more obviously mere opinion.

I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?

What's the point. Politicians are all in it for themselves anyway.

Down with the current government, get people in that actually give a damn about the nation.

What's the point. Politicians are all in it for themselves anyway.

Down with the current government, get people in that actually give a damn about the nation.

One of the theories of declinisim I have been reading suggests that that the decline of Britain is because the wrong people are in power, for some it's the lack of scientists, society's natural searchers for progress that has resulted in Britain's problems. Essentially it's the failure of the education system that has resulted in these problems, the people who are in power have no scientific knowledge and understanding of how society should be run. These scientists etc have been replaced by literary intellectuals and natural Luddites. Maybe you agree with this?

Also, that is the realist view on politics I have read that realists believe that human nature is by certainty, selfish, and everyone is out for their own interests whether this be sought by military or diplomatic means. Maybe you take a realist perspective on politics.

itt nonsense. The idea that scientists could run the government much better than the current lot, who study (mostly) philosophy economics and politics is ludicrous, perhaps the evidence that the majority of people in academia are left-wingers is enough proof of this.

Well i'm sure the people who believe this don't think it's nonsense. But again that just proves that one of many aspects of politics is that it revolves around debate and that not everyone thinks the same way about it.

One of the theories of declinisim I have been reading suggests that that the decline of Britain is because the wrong people are in power, for some it's the lack of scientists, society's natural searchers for progress that has resulted in Britain's problems. Essentially it's the failure of the education system that has resulted in these problems, the people who are in power have no scientific knowledge and understanding of how society should be run. These scientists etc have been replaced by literary intellectuals and natural Luddites. Maybe you agree with this?

Also, that is the realist view on politics I have read that realists believe that human nature is by certainty, selfish, and everyone is out for their own interests whether this be sought by military or diplomatic means. Maybe you take a realist perspective on politics.

Yes, they are mostly in it for themselves and, ultimately, their master...

Helping the poor doesn't = Labour. Political rhetoric is designed so that you agree with it, but you need to try look past the obvious and see it for what it really is. Trust me, the more you learn about political parties, the more disillusioned with them you become (in my experience anyway).

How can our countries leaders have any kind of empathy for the majority if they themselves have come from privileged backgrounds and have never experienced a real working day in their lives? That's what I like about the theory behind American politics, that anybody has the chance of becoming President if they work hard. In Britain you can only really get anywhere in politics if you have come from an elitist background.

This is an argument I see a lot of and which I, personally think, is a massive load of *******s. Firstly American politics is not more open than British politics, both candidates spent in excess of a billion dollars to run their election campaigns last time round, sums that can only be generated by the vested intrest of the two major parties and their commercial partners.

Secondly, if you have a competent government, you have absolutely no need for a representative one, other than it looks nice. If you had people who thought more rationally and pragmatically, rather than sticking by dogma and idealism then they would be perfectly capable of empathising with people who have a different situation than them.

The problem with politics derives from a problem with society, the problem is the consumerist, capitalist need for SELF-improvment, SELF-satisfaction and the preservation of chaos. If you do not tackle society as a whole's addiction to arrogance and greed then you'll never improve anything.