Real, clear politics for 'beginners' or 'experts'

by Deborah Taylor

Politics are important again. We're five years into a war we were told was won three years ago. Then there's all the problems with the Third World. All that genocide. So, yeah, there's a fair bit of politics around... Debs Taylor's gets chewy about politics in her newly-resurrected Frankencolumn.

I want to write about politics. Which isn't that fluffy (although it definitely is as mooky as you can possibly get) but nonetheless, I have an urge to write about them.

At the moment, politics are important again. We're about to enter election season, America has already started its seemingly endless process to choose its next President. Britain will very probably be looking to elect a new government either later this year or early next. There always seems to be an election going on somewhere in the world.

We're also five years into a war that we were told was won three years ago. We're facing a global economic breakdown. And let's not mention Global Warming. Then there's all the problems with the Third World. All that genocide. So, yeah, there's a fair bit of politics around.

But politics is boring. It really isn't as shiny and fun as writing about bunny rabbits. Most politics is really just men in grey suits discussing things in big rooms, making big decisions, that trickle down and we seem to barely notice their effects, until someone points them out to us. No wonder no one bothers to vote, or have a political stand point, let alone an informed one. Which is more important, the European Trade Act, or Britney Spears' latest breakdown? Are the two related?

And the biggest problem with politics is that it's really just someone's point of view. There's no right or wrong answer, not even in the most Manichean situation. Someone will always be around to play Devil's Advocate. But, this is my column, so whatever lumbering beast Fankencolumn may be, it's all mine.

So I'm going to damn well talk politics to you.

And this is my mission statement. Over the next few weeks and, possibly, months, I'll pick a topic or issue and try, within around 500 words or less, and discuss it. I will do so in a way that makes it easy to understand, and will allow you to make up your own mind that my point of view is right.

It's going to be a heady journey, we'll be taking in Foreign Policy, Immigration, Economics, Globalisation, War, Environment and we'll still be back in time for tea. Using the wonders of the internet, I'll be highlighting causes you may wish to support, and giving you the chance and easy opportunity to do so. Even if you're not yet old enough to vote.

I'll be giving you names of authors you may wish to read, should you wish to learn more about any given subject, I'll be hanging out in the forum if you want to discuss things further, if you want to try and argue that I'm wrong. (Though, do try and remember that I'll always be right, as will anyone in a discussion on politics.)

And I'll also be comparing George W. Bush to a chimpanzee. Because it's a cheap shot and, well, in all honesty it's a stunning likeness that cannot be overlooked.

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Mission statement

Mookychick believes that climbing trees and riding giant turtles is more fun and girly than worrying about make-up. But if you want to worry about make-up instead of turtles? Fine by us. Be you feminist, kitten, punk, emo, indie, goth, witch, vegan, horror junky, intellectual, christian goth, corset queen, geek, unicorn, sea monkey... be you into alternative style, alternative health, spirituality, comics, manga, j-pop, harajuku or jock culture... we will always love you.