When did you start being interested in politics?

[President Johnson]

When did you start being interested in politics? And what was the reason? A certain figure or event maybe?

I've been modestly interested since 16 or 17. I was also very good at history in school. Later I was very disappointed that I couldn't vote in the German federal election of 2009 for being ten days short of my 18th birthday. As I have been fascinated by America since my childhood, I begun being interested in US politics since the age of 18 after I watched a documentary of presidents ("The Presidents"). Since then, LBJ has been favorite president for his domestic policies. But I was always leaning towards the center-left and always wanted to vote for the SPD like my parents. At 21, I also became a member of the SPD (ironically at the exact same date I registered in this forum; August 27, 2013).

[TheSaint250]

The reason I probably did become much more interested in politics was because of this past election. Ever since then, it's basically become my thing. I never really liked politics much before that. The first election night I watched was 2012 but only because I had no interest whatsoever beforehand. Kinda wish now I did pay more attention to earlier elections.

[Phony Moderate]

The invasion of Iraq, so early 2003.

First solely domestic event I followed even slightly was the downfall of IDS.

[Crumpets]

It was probably a series of events that could best be summed up as "the Bush administration." 9/11 was probably the kickstarter, but I didn't really start following politics intently until around 2005-6, as the anti-Bush movement really took hold, and we started to build up to the 2008 election. By 2007, I was watching all of the primary debates as well as Meet the Press and Countdown, so I was pretty hooked on politics by the time we voted in Obama, even though I wasn't too enthusiastic about him.

[Confused Democrat]

During the Ron Paul Revolution.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Around the time of the 2004 Presidential election. I was in elementary school.

[Technocracy Timmy]

Hearing my dad complain about Bush 24/7 everytime the news was on.

[Coraxion]

The reason I probably did become much more interested in politics was because of this past election. Ever since then, it's basically become my thing. I never really liked politics much before that. The first election night I watched was 2012 but only because I had no interest whatsoever beforehand. Kinda wish now I did pay more attention to earlier elections.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

During the Ron Paul Revolution.

This. In my case, the 2008 iteration of the LOVEALUTION.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

It was probably a series of events that could best be summed up as "the Bush administration." 9/11 was probably the kickstarter, but I didn't really start following politics intently until around 2005-6, as the anti-Bush movement really took hold, and we started to build up to the 2008 election. By 2007, I was watching all of the primary debates as well as Meet the Press and Countdown, so I was pretty hooked on politics by the time we voted in Obama, even though I wasn't too enthusiastic about him.

[Mr. Smith]

Hearing my dad complain about Bush 24/7 everytime the news was on.

[OSR stands with Israel]

During the 2012 general election campaign .

[JGibson]

Regarding my intensity of following politics: It has to be the run-up to the 2008 Presidential election primaries: Obama v. Clinton v. Edwards v. others on the Dem side, and McCain/Giuliani v. Romney v. Huckabee v. others on the GOP side.

This was where my Democratic roots were formed, and have evolved over the years.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

My first brush with politics was the 2008 Democratic Primary battle between Hilldawg and Obama. But I really became interested in it the summer before my freshman year of high school , during the Debt Ceiling Debacle of 2011. It also sparked my interest in economics, which is the degree field I'm now studying in college.

[SNJ1985]

When I was 14 or 15 years old

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Literally as long as I can remember.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Around the time of the 2004 Presidential election. I was in elementary school.

This. Basically in 2003, my first grade teacher put a picture of every US President on the wall and I realized there were like 39 more of them than I thought. I became intensely fascinated with the history of the Presidency.

[super6646]

When Trump decided to run for office.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Introduced to Equal Rights Amendment in 1984, when my mom informed me of Ferarro, but didn't tell me about her scandals with her husband. Which doomed Mondale chances and reminded voters again in 1988, when Kitty Dukakis drunk rubbing alcohol. During Cold War Era. Also, Nancy Reagan's slogan say no to drugs.

But, not an activist until Jerry Brown ran in 1992

[BuckeyeNut]

I've been interested since 2000 but didn't really get serious about it until 2007 or so, when Barack Obama came out of nowhere to challenge Hillary Clinton. I remember my Dad had been an Edwards man but came over to Obama pretty quickly after.

[morgieb]

Was semi-exposed to politics from about 2004 onwards but it wasn't until 2010 when I genuinely got interested in it.

[Burke Bro]

In 2015, thanks to a friend who was obsessed with Bernie and told me all about him.

[Hoosier_Nick]

Early 2015, when I was a Freshman in High School. The Sanders campaign got me more invested, and then the Clinton campaign, and now Indiana politics.

[Kingpoleon]

When I first decided to enter politics, or when I began to follow it?

I really followed it first in 2012, and the first politician I remember listening to wa sKasich. He offered hope and a vision, the likes of which I had never heard before, nor have I heard of one since. Most politicians have visions of grandeur, of policies to rally people. But Kasich's vision is one of leadership, of kindness, of true hope for those in the shadows - the poor, the drug addicted, and the mentally ill - and of unity for all.

[Badger]

Painfully Young. When I was 11 and the 1980 elections happened. I was astonished from all the holes I had been reading as to what a blowout for Reagan it was. I wasn't hardcore anti-reagan at that time, so I wasn't too too terribly upset, though I still felt Carter deserve better

In subsequent years as the western Pennsylvania economy died, was buried, and had the Earth above it salted, I became so much radicalized. Despite the fact my family was decidedly upper-middle-class ordering on rich And as far away from the economic hardship of the Mon Valley as if we lived in Orange County.