Chapter 2
Understanding Why Politics and Politicians are Impotant
In This Chapter
Looking at what politicians do
Examining some large issues politicians face
Participating in politics as an activist
Most politicians aren’t short on ego! They love the sound of their own voices, their names in the papers and their pictures on TV. But they do have, at least in part, good reason for their egos because, whatever you think about them, politicians are important. To name but a few of their jobs in a democracy such as Britain’s: politicians make the laws, negotiate international treaties and even decide whether to go to war. They’re also responsible for meeting the challenges of the major issues – from poverty in the developing world to fighting climate change – that affect not just the UK but the world. Yes, that’s a lot of power!
As for politics itself – it’s all around you, permeating your life. If you look out of your front window and see a road, that’s because a politician took a political decision to build a road. Turn on your lights; they work because a politician (perhaps the same one) took a political decision to build a new power plant. And, of course, discussion of politics – ...
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