Ask HN: How did you pivot to politics? (NOT policy)?

4 pointsdontbenebby2y ago4 comments

I'd love to do political consulting... I'm not a great technologist. I'm not a cryptographer, my linux skills are stuck in the 2000s... I'm basically a mid 30s scrip kiddie who did a lot of poetry on the side. I never had the nest egg that enables others to speak like I do in the clear, in the real. I wanted to be a writer, I didn't want to be a lawyer, and I didn't want to waste my parents' money, so I studied "information", the ultimate creative nonfiction.

I used to just encourage slow change -- get people to register to vote, not tell them how to, and hope that with each iteration, we'll get closer to how it was when America was formed -- more of a right libertarian versus democratic socialist debate, if we're going to force a two party system. After all, folks seem to forget that George Washington, like myself, was an independent -- I only registered as a democrat out of grave concern for our democracy, after being told by one of the local election judges it is how it is -- you need to declare a bias, or you're suspect...

I'm very good at telling people what to say and do to get into office. I'm less good at keeping them there, but... I also, like the Italian Five Stars, believe that politics should not be a profession.

And unlike the not-so-crypto-anarchists, I do think government can be a good thing, if done from the bottom up -- my experience has been that most politicians, and I've met scores of them in the informal context, having met scores of them... they're like that bald guy who gets gassed by Kevin Spacey on house of cards[1]. Or Frank Sabotka on The Wire[2]. Starting out with good intent, perverted by evil men (and women) who do not want to listen to the voice of the people, who think we have an "excess" of democracy[3].

Based on the above... where, if anywhere, should I apply? Who should I talk to?

I was immature, in 2016. I was too focused on childish things, like being a penetration tester, a job I'm not suited for... 80/100% out of state or country travel, juggling clients, and... I wasn't even making much -- I got roped into yet another nonprofit, one offer at a time, so I didn't have the nest egg to land gracefully.

Anyway -- I'm good at this. Picking people, putting them in, knocking them out (metaphorically).

How do I do it... for money?

Has anyone done this pivot, and if so, are you willing to drop your contact information in the comments?

My email is this username at proton m a i l dot c h if you want to reach out to me rather than go that way.

I'm off to return some library books.

(Apparently that's become the new "I'm off to return some video tapes"[4]) == SPOILERS IN CITATIONS 1, 2, and 4: [1] Peter Russo... was a Democratic Congressman from PA's 1st Congressional District. Divorced with two children... when Frank saw that Peter was becoming a liability, he killed him and made his death look like a suicide. [2] Frank is a respected Polish-American treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks. As the pater familias for the docks' longshoremen population, it is his job to manage the finances of the labor union and make sure that workers are taken care of - a task made harder by the decline of the local shipping industry and lack of available hours... Suspicious of how a longshoreman could have so much disposable income, Valchek manages to persuade Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell to assemble a detail to investigate Sobotka's activities. [3] https://web.archive.org/web/20120309011043/http://www.trilateral.org/download/doc/crisis_of_democracy.pdf [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8coOHhotXY

4 comments

solardev2y ago

Your post reads like someone who is interested in politics on the side, and has done a lot of reading on US issues, but hasn't really worked in the field. Is that accurate? If so, can you start there, working for campaigns (maybe as a volunteer/intern at first) or think tanks or NGOs/NPOs? You'll get paid a pittance at first, but it's a way in...

I don't think anyone will care about your crypto or software background, though (like maybe don't bring it up...?). Politics is its own bubble full of makers and shakers. Frankly I think you'd have to prove it to them (someone) that you're worth it, people aren't just going to care about your personal politics unless you can do something for them.

As an aside, I've met a few political types in D.C. when I was there visiting. I'd just found them on LinkedIn or on their company pages (various advocacy agencies/nonprofits) or even on dating apps, and wrote them asking if I could buy them lunch just to hear their stories, how they got in the field, etc. -- making my agenda clear upfront, that I'm just a nobody curious about the field, can you tell me more if I get you lunch? These people were genuinely impressive... friendly and willing to talk to me, despite being very busy and extremely well educated and connected.

dontbenebbyOP2y ago

>Your post reads like someone who is interested in politics on the side, and has done a lot of reading on US issues, but hasn't really worked in the field. Is that accurate?

I worked for a major K Street NGO. I was removed for refusing to weaken web standards.

I took a pause from all assistance to civil society during Trump, to make folks think and reflect about the consequences of their decisions.

(As I like to joke at open mic: your post Columbine models are broken, I don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the Solar Winds blow, and it is my inaction that will be the death of you.)

h2odragon2y ago

> I never had the nest egg that enables others to speak like I do in the clear, in the real.

WTF?

Only the wealthy can participate in politics or public debate?

If I was grading this; I'd give you a "D" and tell you to try again, with focus this time.

You want a job in politics, is that it?

dontbenebbyOP2y ago

>Only the wealthy can participate in politics or public debate?

Pretty much, I've seen how you're retaliated against. I spent down on a Bellingcat cert, but that's useless -- doesn't matter what I find in public view, folks don't listen.

>If I was grading this; I'd give you a "D" and tell you to try again, with focus this time.

Thanks for that feedback,

>You want a job in politics, is that it?

Consulting.

(Or a delete button tbh -- keep regretting my posts on the internet.)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

Ask HN: How did you pivot to politics? (NOT policy)?

4 pointsdontbenebby2y ago4 comments

Based on the above... where, if anywhere, should I apply? Who should I talk to?

Anyway -- I'm good at this. Picking people, putting them in, knocking them out (metaphorically).

How do I do it... for money?

Has anyone done this pivot, and if so, are you willing to drop your contact information in the comments?

My email is this username at proton m a i l dot c h if you want to reach out to me rather than go that way.

I'm off to return some library books.

4 comments

solardev2y ago

dontbenebbyOP2y ago

>Your post reads like someone who is interested in politics on the side, and has done a lot of reading on US issues, but hasn't really worked in the field. Is that accurate?

I worked for a major K Street NGO. I was removed for refusing to weaken web standards.

I took a pause from all assistance to civil society during Trump, to make folks think and reflect about the consequences of their decisions.

(As I like to joke at open mic: your post Columbine models are broken, I don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the Solar Winds blow, and it is my inaction that will be the death of you.)

h2odragon2y ago

> I never had the nest egg that enables others to speak like I do in the clear, in the real.

WTF?

Only the wealthy can participate in politics or public debate?

If I was grading this; I'd give you a "D" and tell you to try again, with focus this time.

You want a job in politics, is that it?

dontbenebbyOP2y ago

>Only the wealthy can participate in politics or public debate?

Pretty much, I've seen how you're retaliated against. I spent down on a Bellingcat cert, but that's useless -- doesn't matter what I find in public view, folks don't listen.

>If I was grading this; I'd give you a "D" and tell you to try again, with focus this time.

Thanks for that feedback,

>You want a job in politics, is that it?

Consulting.

(Or a delete button tbh -- keep regretting my posts on the internet.)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse