People often throw this term around, but it wasn't until recently that I came to personally know and experience what politics actually is.

What you may have heard

Places with lots of politics are terrible places to work in.  People all universally hate politics.  Life would be so much better if politics was not around to terrorize everyone.

The truth

Everyone is engaged in politics.  Whenever someone chooses to hide the truth and say something other than his honest opinion, he is engaged in politics.  Of course, there are justifications and rationalizations for this behavior.  Things like "it would be suicide to have said that", or that "it was for consideration of others' feelings".  But, it's politics nonetheless.

My experience

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege and opportunity to experience politics firsthand.  On two separate occasions, I said something I shouldn't have said.  What I said was my honest opinion, but it wasn't what the people in power wanted to hear.  Afterwards, one of my co-workers, who obviously cares about me, came to me and told me how she had to effectively cover up for me.  She told me that she had to explain that I was new to the company, and so I should be excused for my inappropriate behavior.  Otherwise, bad things may have happened to me.  Like I wouldn't have a job anymore.  While I am very thankful for what she did for me, I still cannot agree that that was what I should've done (was to not say what I said).  I think that it is my duty to point out the problems, and that the higher-ups need to have an accurate picture of where we stand.  If it comes to the point that the higher-ups cannot handle a straightfoward answer, and would rather only hear what they want to hear, then that is also the point in which I wonder what the future is for the company.  If nobody ever tells you that you did anything wrong, then how will you even know that you need to change what you're doing?  So I was frustrated.  That's why you're reading about it!

What my co-workers have said

My wise co-workers, whom I'm learning lots from, told me something like this: we should have the perspective that we're just here for the money.  It's not really our place to make sure that things are done right.  We give the people who pay us what they want.  If they want the truth, then great.  If not, then we should still humor them.  Of course, this ain't the Christian way, obviously.  And for a Christian, this may be an instance in which a price has to be paid.  Either do things as a Christian would do, and accept the consequences, or don't do things as a Christian would do, and don't pay for the consequences.  Of course, there's always consequences, because there is someone we all have to answer to eventually.  So, I've decided to be stubborn and keep doing what my conscience tells me is right, even if it's stupid and suicidal (career-wise, not physical; no I don't need help).

At any rate, this was an educational experience, I think.  Things like these are the things that people would consider the dark side, the ugly face of business, though there's probably way uglier that I've never experienced before.