Politics is the system through which resources are used to resolve conflicts between large groups of people. When related to government, politics is the method whereby conflicting groups or interests negotiate who gets legislative power. Largely viewed as a game played by powerful men and women who manipulate the system for their own personal gain, politics was conceived as a way of maintaining peaceful relations between bodies of people to large to be kept in check by simple, un-mediated interpersonal relations.

A popular joke breaks down the meaning of politics into two parts: "poli" meaning many, and "tics" meaning blood-sucking creatures. This simple joke reflects a deep-seated, negative attitude towards politics shared by many people. Though government, especially in democratic countries, is designed to reflect the will of the people, to meet needs and provide goods and services too complex and expensive for individuals to take care of on their own; it has come to be viewed as an impenetrably complex web of rules and regulations, inaccessible to every-day people. Due to this perception, politics has become something of a by-word, used to refer negatively on any system of relationships that has become complex, rife with pettiness, and more of a series of power games than a genuine attempt to get anything done. Politicians are viewed then as the ultimate players of this game, slick, oily and deceptive people who are experts at manipulation of the rules and not to be trusted. Because the governing concepts of politics are complex and nuanced; those who understand the concepts are viewed as foreign, unlikeable and not worthy of trust.

This is an unfortunate state of affairs because at its best and purest politics is meant to serve the people, to be an orderly system through which the average citizen is able to get things done, through which is its possible for decisions to be reached and policies enacted which are beneficial for the whole of society.

Writers throughout the ages have speculated extensively as to how political systems can best be arranged to serve the people. Notable thinkers on this topic include Plato, Karl Marx and John Locke, who is widely regarded as the inspiration for United States' political system.

Growing cynicism sees politicians that promises to streamline the process or genuinely work to create lasting change for the people with suspicion and frequently even contempt.