How can a non-political person gain a working knowledge of world politics w/o diving right in & drowning?

Question

I've tried watching and reading the news as well as listening to talk radio on a regular basis. The problem is that my synapses aren't firing on the subject of politics fast enough for me to be able to string all of the information together to form my own coherent picture of the world. Figuratively, I feel that I am drowning in a sea of scattered bits of information.

The above could be because I view the knowledge of politics in our day and age merely as a "necessity" and were it not so, I would not care to know anything about the subject at all. Politicians jade me & the whole subject seems quite depressing.

That said, how can a person like me, who also likes to learn every issue from all sides (not just one), gain a working knowledge of world politics from the ground floor? Are there any "novice-friendly" websites that explain things a bit more than the typical sites do? Do you have any other ideas?

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful answers!

GREAT answers so far! Thanks!

Answer 1

The thing is, I think you are getting overwhelmed by everything that's going on. Pick a topic and look it up on Wikipedia. That's where I like to go to get a history and/or a basic understanding of something. I see them as pretty unbiased and this way you can make up your own mind while being well-informed.

Answer 2

First of all, get rid of your television, and for god's sake, stop listening to talk radio - that moves you further from understanding politics.

Start listening to NPR and subscribe to the NYTimes, and read it, every day.

Do those two things and you'll move to the front of the pack quickly, as far as political knowledge goes.

Answer 3

All you need to know about domestic politics can be demonstrated by the first link below.

All you need to know about International Politics can be demonstrated by the second.

I'll wait

.
.
.
.

Now that you've read them:

If you side with the hen you are tend toward the Rs. With the goose, you tend D.

If you would shun the scorpion you would tend toward the Rs. If you try to understand the scorpions point of view, D.

Answer 4

I think you are already well on the way. I can refer you to one website that has many links to political media other than American medial - cursor.org. Also, tomdispatch.com is a good source for putting things into perspective. DON'T watch American media as it is mostly entertainment, propaganda and doesn't give you the facts you need. Good luck and don't drown!

Answer 5

No. I tell lies to my customers every time i circulate to paintings, infront of my colleagues and with the certainty and approval of my boss. in case you disapprove then you extremely tell me the thank you to calm an eighty 4 year previous widow who's hysterical approximately getting residing house because of the fact she had a newborn the day previous and her husband does not comprehend the thank you to guard it. My reaction to her is that she is staying with us to recuperate, she would be able to not be any stable to the infant if she is going residing house and collapses and that i've got sent a nurse to help her husband.

Answer 6

go to your local precinct meetings, where politics starts.
volunteer for political campaigns. you can meet people not just websites. but there is no solution for the confusion.
because there's no right answer.