Defining "Politics"

It seems that in the 7th century BC Zaleucus, writer of the Locrian Code, thought that the purpose of politics was to reconcile societal fractions and to uphold equality before the law Sounds like good politics to me today

Men, know to us, have been defining 'politics' for about 5000 years. It seems that for most of that time it has been about citizens. Politics, these days in a republic, is that which citizens do as citizens. Its how people make collective decisions. It is a learned art and skill. We taught our children a bit about it at home and in their civics classes at school. In a republic politics are the affairs of citizens.

To be a citizen one need be the citizen of something. These days the thing (or process) is often called the state.

Politics may be called the art of civil administration. It is the way we do governance. That is, politics is the act of people practicing governance. It is the duty and honor of  American citizens to understand and participate in the governance of Country, State, County, City, etc. Its the way we decide who gets the gold and who goes to jail.

Other political duties of citizens of the republic are to oppose corruption, and to support equality before the law, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. It used to be important to be civil too.

The skills and art of politics may be practiced where-ever resources are used or cooperation is desired: church and corporation are institutions that come to mind.: school, sports, and marriage are others.

A principle constituent of the art of politics are the skills of that purposeful, cooperative talk often called dialogue.

Some young neighbors of mine call it a fair-fighting way of getting what you want.