I figure the questions needs to be asked. After all, if “you” are silent and are not informed, you will be out-voiced by others who are not silent and are involved.
That does not make your legislators “venal” but there is an old, relevant platitude:
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Please share widely!
civ·ic [siv-ik]
-adjective
1. of or pertaining to a city; municipal: civic problems.
2. of or pertaining to citizenship; civil: civic duties.
3. of citizens: civic pride.
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p>[Origin: 1535-45; < L c?vicus, equiv. to c?v(is) citizen +
icusic]<
p>-Related forms
civ·i·cal·ly, adverb
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p>Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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p>Sorry, back to school for me tomorrow. I couldn’t resist this.
But I wonder whether civic engagement is really limited to contacting representatives and writing letters to the editor. It seems to me that this is merely one way to be engaged. (And I assume you left off voting because that’s almost a given if you’re bothering to comment here…)
Over the last couple of weeks I was out doing the “signature” thing; Every two years our congressman needs 2000 signatures on his nomination papers. I am happy to help. Those of you that have done such a thing know that it is much more than just holding a clipboard. This is a great form of the strongly interactive (face-to-face) civic engagement. People that have an opinion, an idea, a gripe, a need to vent, an issue, etc., make very good use of the opportunity given them when you ask, “Would you like to sign…”.
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p>Engagement is a two-way street, and it seems to be more effective in the direction opposite from Amber’s poll choices. Politicians of all stripes need to stop listening so much to the squeaky wheels of the world and start asking the regular joes what they think – and then actually listen!
When my buddy talked me into running with him as a Patrick delegate two years ago, I decided to also take out papers for Town Meeting. I have worked with local government for most of my professional life and cut my teeth as an elected TM rep in Amherst years ago while a junior at UMass.
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p>Tomorrow night I will attend the start of the third annual Town Meeting of my term. These have run to about 10 nights a year and I have not missed a night, though I did have to leave a half hour early once or twice.
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p>I am not a big talker at TM (for which other members should maybe thank me) but I pay attention and try to do my homework. Last year I sponsored a warrant article, which passed.
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p>This activity has also brought me to hearings and budget summits and other meetings in town, mostly around the budget.
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p>So I don’t know if this is what you had in mind, but it’s what I do. I checked in and am still here.
Still, for having been away on vacation, not so bad. One of you want to ask the big question, above?