|
Local Government and Politics - Meetings are the Challenge
Copyright 2006 Al Arnold
There are a couple of problems that exist, which hinder local
government from being the best it can be.
One problem that prevents some citizens from attending local
government meetings, is the fear of the local elected officials.
They are strangers. We don't know them, therefore, we avoid them.
Who is a local elected government official? Let me tell you.
* They are someone who ran for local office, for one reason or
another. They give up an enormous amount of time for their
"public service." They truly want to do a good job.
* They are someone just like you. They have the same family,
professional, and money problems that you have.
* They have good days and they have bad days.
* Many of them ran un-opposed. The voters decided that they were
better than "nobody."
* They are not "experts" in the field of local government. In
extremely small units of government they operate without any
"professional" expertise.
* Their options for solving problems is the "lesser of two
evils." If you have two good or excellent choices as solutions,
you have an opportunity, not a problem. When you have a problem,
your choice for solving it, is the "lesser of two evils."
* They are amateurs. As amateurs, they make mistakes. They make
lots of mistakes. Everyone in public service makes mistakes.
Every good elected official I have ever known, all agree that
they would be able to do a better job if more citizens attended
meetings and gave their input. Yet, citizens fail to do that,
unless and until it is almost too late.
A common complaint of local officials is the the "public" does
not pay attention to issues until the research is far into the
process. Public Information Meetings are held. Nobody shows up.
The Press reports on the Public Information Meeting and nobody
reads the article. Months of Committee Meetings are held
discussing possible options and solutions, and nobody listens.
When the issue finally comes to vote, opponents come out of the
woodwork claiming the proposal is being "shoved down their
throat." Tempers flare.
A second reason some citizens won't go to meetings is the fear
of not being "listened" to. There is a big difference between
not being listened to and not having local officials agree with
you.
* If you play by the rules of the meeting, speak at the
appropriate time and have a well prepared statement, you will be
listened to. You will be respected.
* If you speak appropriately, and the local officials do not
agree with you, that does not mean you were not listened to.
What it means is they have a difference of opinion with you.
There is a big difference between not being listened to, and not
agreeing with you.
So, here are a four suggestions if you wish to become more
politically involved at the local level.
1) Attend some meetings just to learn the rules, procedures and
players in the local political game. You do not speak at these
meetings. You simply learn by observation. You begin to take
away the "fear factor" of not knowing who are local officials.
2) If you believe an issue is important, get involved in the
issue at the earliest possible meeting and discussion. The
longer you wait to get involved, the less your chance of helping
to determine the outcome.
3) When it is time for you to speak on an issue, make sure you
know before the meeting, the rules of when to speak, how long
you will be allowed to speak and then follow those rules.
4) Write out and PRACTICE your speech. You won't be sorry you
did, and neither will the audience who listens to you.
These simple suggestions can go a long way in helping you to
become more aware and respected at the local political level.
About the author:
Al Arnold, Local Politics Pontificator, is the author of Moving
Mountains and Molehills Local Politics 101.
http://WWW.LocalPolitics101.US
Al Arnold
More Articles
ADHD – Politics, Money, or Science? - Shane Ellison
As a medicinal chemist I've had the opportunity to see a shockingly different side of Ritalin (methylphenidate) and ADHD than the media exposes. The Experimental Pharmacology Department of the American Cyanamid Company and the Merck Index report...
Politics and Masons (Druids) - Robert Bruce Baird
My ancestors include Rufus King and probably include the likes of Robert the Bruce, Martha Baird Rockefeller and many more agents of hierarchy and pladins of power. I am ashamed to say it is the blood of my forbears who have enslaved so many in...
The Politics Behind Olympics Games - Jonathon Hardcastle
Among the Greeks, fitness competitions and games were nationalistic in spirit; states were said to have been prouder of Olympic victories than of battles won. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete. Contestants...
Company Politics and Six Sigma by Peter Peterka - Peter Peterka
No grouping of human beings is without some amount of politics.
Managing deployment of Six Sigma in your organization will
unavoidably run into some personal issues and conflict. However,
with deft handling of the personal and political issues...
Wearing Your Politics on Your Sleeve - Rachel Edelman
As the election season heats up, progressively minded entrepreneurs are combining their politics, creativity, and business savvy in an all-out effort to defeat George W. Bush in 2004.
"Vote for Anyone but Bush 2004," says one slogan. "Not my...
The Nice People's Guide to Business Politics - Lisa Lake
I re-entered the workforce after years of being a stay at home mom. I knew that I was good at what I did, but when I first started back in business it seemed that nothing I did was good enough. I felt I was lost at sea. It seemed that people were...
Natural Supplements vs. Pharmaceutical Drugs: The Politics of Surviving Cancer - Paula Rothstein
It is understandable that a medicinal drug having undergone double blind studies, several years of research, and millions of dollars spent on that research, should have a place of credibility. But what if the entire system was flawed to begin...
When Politics Prevent Innovation - John Savageau
When Politics Prevent Innovation Or… Still Fighting Battles and Losing Wars The objective is to beat the competition and make money. Everything a business organization does should be focused on that simple objective, with interpretation through...
The Tragedy of Timothy McVeigh from D'OH! Poetic Justice for Politics and Other - JimElzie Livingston
Jody closed the scrap book. They sat silently for a moment.
Charlotte was the first to speak, rather cautiously. "Well done.
Something said well that desperately needed saying. The book
review serves as a splendid device. It offers the tool to...
The Repercussions Of Bringing Former Terrorists To Mainstream Politics - Angelique van Engelen
Today, in many countries’ political realities, tribalist and nationalist or globalist forces clash fiercely, undermining chances of peace and democracy. This is particularly topical in the Middle East, where efforts by established leaderships to...
The Fairness of Office Politics ... Integrity and Political Motivation! - Edward B Toupin
I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics in corporate America. Employees say that their managers "lie" or issue "personal attacks" against them. Indeed, based on the pure ideals that we are taught as a child, this might...
Where Money & Politics Meet - Alex Lekas
North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx obviously doesn’t get it. Somebody pull her aside and explain to the nice lady that accountability over spending has no place in the passage of an emergency relief bill. Foxx was among 11 members of the...
|
