Applied politics

There are two ways of making politics one's vocation: Either one lives 'for' politics or one lives 'off' politics. The rule is that man does both, at least in thought, and certainly he also does both in practice. The distinction between the two refers to much more substantial aspect of the matter, namely, to the economic. He who strives to make politics a permanent source of income lives off politics as a vocation, whereas he who does not do this lives 'for' politics.

The quite formless management of politics in normal times lies in the hands of a few people constantly interested in it. Only the journalist is a paid professional politician, only the management of the newspaper is a continuous political organization. Besides the newspaper, there is only the parliamen tary session. Permanent associations of the parties exist only in the large cities with moderate contribu tions of the members and periodical conferences and public meetings where the delegate gives account of the parliamentary activities. The party is alive only during election periods.