Post by firecracker on Jun 15, 2013 10:57:47 GMT -5
Dr. Pieczenik's blog about local politics prompts me to make a few comments. And I agree that this is a subject on which we need to focus more attention.
As a former elected local politician, I got an upfront look at how the system works.
First, Steve is absolutely right that the things that will affect your daily life the most are at the local level. Water, sewer, nuisances, interface with local emergency services, snow plowing and a myriad of other things you may not realize.
Did you know that the cost of your cable TV service is partially influenced by the contract that the provider has with and renews periodically with your local government? Often there are hidden "taxes" in that bill because your local pols don't want to raise taxes in a way you will notice. And, community access channels or the lack thereof are also negotiated there.
The first letter you receive after you win the local election and many letters thereafter, are addressed to "The Honorable ___", and say essentially, congratulations and we look forward to working with you.
And they are from every politician on a county, state and federal level above you in your area. This is code for....you have thousands of people who supported you and we want your supporters to support US when we run for high office.
So it is important to elect honest people at the local level who do not have a power lust.
One of the reasons that we get so much corruption at high levels is that NOBODY is paying any attention to the local elections and officials who are the feeder roots providing support to the system above. Redirect these roots to good people who are not sociopaths and MANY things could change.
There is no more responsive politician than one who may encounter you at the local grocery store where you can corner them to complain!
Or than one you see sneaking out of the back of the local pub with someone other than his wife.
Or who has to drink the same water you are drinking.
If you are in a largely Republican area, don't run on the R ticket...as the establishment above you in the party will assure you do not get elected.
Instead, change your party registration and run on the opposite party ticket and get your R friends to write you in on the R primary ticket.
Once you are on the ticket for the fall election in the opposite spot, you have MONTHS to put together a campaign to challenge the entrenched party (in this example it would be the Republican). And at that time, your Republican friends can vote for you and all the straight party voters on the Democrat side will be voting for you also. This example is simply reversed when necessary. Remember always...we are in a two headed ONE PARTY system!
After a decade in local politics and more, I saw only a few dozen times there were more than a ten people present at these important meetings. And many times they were engineers or attorneys for applicants. There were MANY times when NO citizens were present.
At a bare minimum, make sure that your local government minutes are posted ONLINE and that you check them monthly!
As a former elected local politician, I got an upfront look at how the system works.
First, Steve is absolutely right that the things that will affect your daily life the most are at the local level. Water, sewer, nuisances, interface with local emergency services, snow plowing and a myriad of other things you may not realize.
Did you know that the cost of your cable TV service is partially influenced by the contract that the provider has with and renews periodically with your local government? Often there are hidden "taxes" in that bill because your local pols don't want to raise taxes in a way you will notice. And, community access channels or the lack thereof are also negotiated there.
The first letter you receive after you win the local election and many letters thereafter, are addressed to "The Honorable ___", and say essentially, congratulations and we look forward to working with you.
And they are from every politician on a county, state and federal level above you in your area. This is code for....you have thousands of people who supported you and we want your supporters to support US when we run for high office.
So it is important to elect honest people at the local level who do not have a power lust.
One of the reasons that we get so much corruption at high levels is that NOBODY is paying any attention to the local elections and officials who are the feeder roots providing support to the system above. Redirect these roots to good people who are not sociopaths and MANY things could change.
There is no more responsive politician than one who may encounter you at the local grocery store where you can corner them to complain!
Or than one you see sneaking out of the back of the local pub with someone other than his wife.
Or who has to drink the same water you are drinking.
If you are in a largely Republican area, don't run on the R ticket...as the establishment above you in the party will assure you do not get elected.
Instead, change your party registration and run on the opposite party ticket and get your R friends to write you in on the R primary ticket.
Once you are on the ticket for the fall election in the opposite spot, you have MONTHS to put together a campaign to challenge the entrenched party (in this example it would be the Republican). And at that time, your Republican friends can vote for you and all the straight party voters on the Democrat side will be voting for you also. This example is simply reversed when necessary. Remember always...we are in a two headed ONE PARTY system!
After a decade in local politics and more, I saw only a few dozen times there were more than a ten people present at these important meetings. And many times they were engineers or attorneys for applicants. There were MANY times when NO citizens were present.
At a bare minimum, make sure that your local government minutes are posted ONLINE and that you check them monthly!