From Merriam-Webster's definition of politics:
1a: the art or science of government
b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
Also from Merriam-Webster:
Politics is a multifaceted word. It has a set of fairly specific meanings that are descriptive and nonjudgmental (such as “the art or science of government” and "political principles"), but it can and often does carry a negative meaning closely related to these (“political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices”). English is a flexible language, and it is not uncommon for a word to have multiple related meanings that run the connotative gamut from good to bad. Some of these have been around for a surprisingly long time. The negative sense of politics, as seen in the phrase play politics, for example, has been in use since at least 1853, when abolitionist Wendell Phillips declared: “We do not play politics; anti-slavery is no half-jest with us.”
Many people will tell you that they have no use for politics. But to disengage from political discussion only gives permission to someone else to make decisions for you about what and how our government should serve us.
Mark Cuban recently advised people to refrain from contributing to the Senate campaigns in Georgia and instead give money to their local food banks, saying that it would do far more good. He ridicules John Legend for criticizing Mitch McConnell by asserting that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are no different (claiming that all politicians are bad). John Legend disagreed saying that the opportunity to change government priorities would have a much greater impact on the public. I concur with John Legend's argument.
I believe that it is our right if not our duty to participate in the political discussions of our time no matter what side you take. It is particularly galling to me that Cuban as a member of the one percent who has a greater voice in society than you or me, presumes to tell us to throttle our voices and not to spend our money on campaigns. Cuban has expressed an interest in running as an independent for president. His comments only contribute to increased apathy in government. The last thing we need is another TV celebrity billionaire to run for president.