I hate office politics myself but it looks like it is becoming mandatory to be political. It is especially true in a small office where you have to get political to get things moving and find your way around.

I am not able to make up my mind whether one should be political or not? Sometimes, if you don't dirty your hands in politics, your colleague may outsmart you by getting all the credit for the good work done by you. If this does not feel that bad, how about your colleague getting your name involved in the mess that actually he created. Trust me, sometimes it gets so crappy (especially if your boss is a moron too) that you kind of feel like giving up on the fight rather than fighting the "I did not do it" game like a school kid. So, I am kinda unsure, which is a better way to be - political or apolitical? If political, then exactly how much and how to define the boundaries for the same. Moreover, should politics be used for your own good only or should it be used to even pull someone else down. Its a big dilemma, if you have any thoughts on this, I am all ears to hearing you out.