Yes, it’s me again. That guy who attends meetings of local legislative committee and budget hearings. That guy whose arms are loaded with paper, files, and facts. That guy who is focused and determined to hold elected leaders accountable.
Yep, that guy in those jeans and boots, here again to…
… offer testimony to do what I truly believe is an honor and privilege, to engage in the process of what my country was founded on: participating in government as a citizen.
It isn’t easy to do this. I have a regular full-time professional job in a supervisory/ management position. Spousal caregiving is also a full-time job. I am a leader on one national and three local organizations. I have a lot that keeps me busy.
But when my local legislative body says that “we want to hear from you” and few people actually bother to say anything via any method, it explains why things get bad. Why taxes go up. Why services get curtailed. Why people get neglected. If nobody says anything, sometimes elected officials make decisions because they think “nobody cares.”
Further, when legislators are not held accountable for their actions, sometimes they get swayed by people paid to influence them.
I don’t blame paid lobbyists for doing their job and trying to convince local elected officials to favor their positions. When local elected officials first run for office, they say that they won’t be swayed by “paid outsiders.”
But in rather short order, that seems to change.
How we keep our local elected leaders tuned to their original promises on which they ran for office is to show up. Be there. Write letters and email. See them on their turf at hearings and committee meetings. Call them on the phone. Be “that guy” who walks into the room and they all sigh and say, “you again?”
Yep, that happened to me at a Wednesday evening meeting of a committee composed of local elected officials. I arrive with my arms full of information, facts, and data to support my argument. They know I know what I am talking about.
We may not always agree. In fact, we often disagree. However, when they know that I have done my homework, they are prepared to have an intelligent, respectful, debate on issues.
And that, my friends, is what “citizen participation” is all about.
Will I win? Will they? At the moment, I am uncertain of the outcome. The issue about which I am passionate these days is very wonky and as they say, “in-the-weeds.” There are a number of influencing factors making this situation one of those true “gray areas.”
I sense that compromise may be the result. But that’s okay. If I influence compromise, then I have done my job as an engaged citizen.
Life is short: be the “you again guy.”
Hmmm. Based on this blog entry, I foresee a big future for you in elected politics, BHD. I suspect you’d be a ‘natural.’ Besides, unlike a certain governor of a mid-western state which I shall not name (neither him nor his state), we all know that if you wore boots to a campaign event to prove your adherence to a ‘Buy American-made Products’ policy, you’d never make the goof of wearing made in China footwear in place of the “real-deal” USA stuff.
Oh, and can I be your campaign finance chairman/head treasurer when you run? I just know I could spend money just as ineffectively as so many candidates do and I’d get a nice looking Lamborghini and Harley out of the whole shebang as well. It would be a win-win for me.
I have already served in elected office, and promised The Spouse: never again. As I am frequently reminded by elected officials I know well, I am too sensitive to withstand the horrible way that elected officials are treated.
However, I grew up with being taught that “you can’t complain unless you vote AND engage,” so that is what I do. It’s one thing to sit around the TV and bark at “those politicians,” and some think that if they vote their choice that’s enough. (Let’s hope for an informed vote — in 2016 we saw the disaster of what misinformed voting by watch faux news causes.)
As both my Mom and Dad taught me, being an informed voter and
voting is important, but engaging with elected officials as a citizen is not only a right granted to us by our Constitution, but a civic duty.
Thank you for again inspiring us to live up to our potential. Thank you as well for showing us that you can passionately hold a position backed by facts without resorting to vitriol. You’ve shown us that when they say “you again” it’s a term of respect.