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. <\/p>\n
Yep, that guy in those jeans and boots, here again to…
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\n… 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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Further, when legislators are not held accountable for their actions, sometimes they get swayed by people paid to influence them. <\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
But in rather short order, that seems to change.<\/p>\n
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?”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
And that, my friends, is what “citizen participation” is all about.<\/p>\n
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.” <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Life is short: be the “you again guy.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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, … Continue reading