Request for a political discussion forum

Paul, I understand that you want to shy away from political discussions, and that you see the place for these topics in the "meaningless drivel" forum. I think that there are many of us who feel that politics are an important part of Permaculture, since social/political intersections are just as real and affect our lives in a very significant way. For instance, regulations on things like raw milk and cannabis, and the influence of corporations like Monsanto are issues that affect everybody, but especially Permaculturists and homesteaders. By putting these topics in the "meaningless drivel" forum you are dismissing them as meaningless issues and not allowing potentially very useful and enlightening discussions to take place. I realize that this is your forum, and you can do what you want, so I ask this respectfully. I think that the addition of a serious political discussion forum might be a very powerful tool to organize awareness for issues that affect all of us. Anyway, if it turns out to be a flop you can always delete it. Does anybody agree with me? Please reply/like to show your support for such a forum.

I have been to many sites that allow (even encourage) political topics. Invariably, they lead to flame wars and shouting matches.
People divide into factions. This site is trying to unite people, not divide them.

Politics play a role in everyday life, including permaculture, but I believe this site is best served by minimizing the political inputs, and focusing on the practical aspects of permaculture.

Personally I appreciate the general avoidance of discussions of politics on these boards. Politics and the rule of "be nice" tend to not go together well at all and I think it would just be giving the moderators far too much work.

For discussions about politics and permaculture one can visit http://forums.permaculture.org.au/

Politics does tend to bring out the worst in people ... after all, just look at the people that choose to deal with it as a full time job (you know, the politicians).

We should have a rule that you can talk about politics, but only if you also also talking about sex and religion at the same time. This will keep all three taboo topics in some sort of stable triangle of doom.

I appreciate that there is no politics on this site. I belong to a site which has politics, and I even participate, but here I want to talk about doing permaculture, not whether we should. Is there anyone here who doesn't agree that permaculture is important? If you restrict it to discussion about permaculture, you will have everyone pretty much agreeing, and if you let it loose for all political topics, well now people are going to not unit on what they have in common but divide based on political lines (or at least some will)

Why do we need to say in permaculture that seed diversity, for example, is important? Who doesn't agree with that who also practices permaculture? It would merely be preaching to the choir, and inviting trolls who just want to stir up trouble.

just my dos colones, only worth 1/5th as much as two cents.

Just to add on a bit, where I participate in a forum on Politics and Religion is mainly about cycling. There is only one topic that just dies, and that is about cycling. There is no discussion regarding that, because we are all cyclist... My opinion is, that if you really want to make an impact discussing politics, go to a forum where people use conventional farming, etc. and talk about these issues. I promise you that you will get lots of debate, and you knows, you might even do some good.

I have been intimately involved in partisan politics for many years. I participate in many political blogs. When I want to talk politics I go there. When I want to discuss permaculture I come here. Let's please keep it that way. Thank you.

Plenty of places on the net for that kind of talk. Permies is not one of them, thank God! Thanks also to Paul for keeping it that way!

Well ... uh ... what they said! Yeah! Thanks everybody for making my day easier!

Word! Ok, sounds like there's a consensus. I'll try to not engage in those sort of discussions in the future here then!