Inquiry: Jobs best suited for the ordinary, but politically keen newsjunkies

[The Backlash Cometh]

I think we need to discuss, frankly, what jobs make the best options for those of us who are politically aware of what is happening in our world today. We're newsjunkies in our leisure time, but when we go to work, most of us are stuck living in an environment where we have to strip ourselves of any overt signs of emotion. Think of Donald Sutherland in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." That's what it must be like. You have to smile and go along, even though the Talk Radio opinions that are parroted around you challenge you to the core.

I admit I read Jonathan50's rant (see below for link) and I realized that I have saved myself quite a few of the personal clashes he experienced because I simply stopped seeing family members who were right-wingers; and until recently, I didn't have a need to work so my reclusive lifestyle sheltered me from moments that would have caused someone to fire me.

But his post made me do a lot of thinking. What jobs are warm and fuzzy jobs for democratically-leaning individuals? Where can we go to work where our knowledge of the world is actually an asset, or at least, not a hinderance?

Jonathan50's post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x314465

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. being self-employed works for me.

Everyone here agrees with my opinion, considering it is just me. Well, most of the time.
until I start talking to myself and find myself disagreeing.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I'm thinking the same thing.

I just don't know if what I hope to do is going to be enough income.

[Sal Minella]

5. It's amazing how small an income you can live on once your work stops stomping your ethics.....

[no_hypocrisy]

2. A political consultant.

Even with the smaller, more local or regional elections or working directly for an elected official (state senator, freeholder, etc.) to help research and write policy and proposed laws, responding to attacks in the media, planning on attaining votes in the next election, etc. To have someone who understand the strength and weaknesses of past policy and articulate and clarify the official's stance on a variety of issues.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Sounds like you cut and paste that one from a job description!

Thanks. That would be a direct use of the news junkie part, but not the kind of job that an ordinary person would seek.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Teach high school.

History class, preferably.

[WinkyDink]

7. Agreed, although British Lit afforded me opportunities to discuss Liberal ideas!

[Jonathan50]

8. Actually my family aren't even close to being freepers

It's more like they are extremely unpolitical and don't want to hear about it at all.

My son in law might be a little bit freeperish but even he thinks Bush is an idiot now.

My wife is even more libertarian and leftist than I am and my daughter is right there with Nelson Mandela on the Political Compass.

I have no one in real life to talk to about my concerns, my brother agrees with me but doesn't want to discuss it because it depresses him too much.

As for jobs, how about political activist or maybe journalist?

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Hi Jonathan50!

:hi:

My in-laws are very freeperish and I removed myself from Thanksgiving Dinner invitations years ago because I knew I'd lose it, the way that you described in your situation. (Though this last invite for Christmas did harvest good results.)

Political Activist and Journalists are the easy answers. I'm digging deeper. I'm trying to figure out why there is nothing out there that is truly selling widgets, that attracts Democrats. You'd think with this new emphasis on Green products that there would be all kinds of franchises branching out, looking for Green-minded folk who are just looking for a product they can believe in, in order to sell it.