When it comes to politics, many assume it’s someone else’s job to pay attention and take action. But the reality is, political decisions affect you every day – whether it’s the roads you drive on, the parks your kids play in, or the taxes that come out of your paycheck. These decisions may be made by elected officials, but it’s your responsibility to be part of that process. Ignoring problems won’t make them go away. If you want to see changes in your community, you need to start taking notice and getting involved.
If you’re just now getting that urge to make things happen, my advice is to start local. Those guys in Washington are a million miles away and some are about as accessible as Tom Cruise. Zoom in a bit. Look out your window. See anything you don’t like? This is where you can make an enormous impact and you don’t have to be a savvy politico to get things done.
Tiny Steps Lead to Big Changes
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple suggestion: pick a single issue that matters to you. What about that pothole at the end of your street that seems to sneak up on you every morning? Are you more than ready for it to get fixed? If so, then it’s time to act. Call the public works department. Report the problem to your Mayor and Alderman. Then, keep following up. Oh, and next time you run into neighbors, tell them what you are doing and pass the phone numbers along to them. Do the same on social media.
Watch how quickly your frustration turns to pride when you realize you’ve played a role in fixing something that directly affects your day-to-day life. That feeling? It’s addictive. You’ll move on to the next issue, and then the next. You’ll start to realize how satisfying it is to help not just yourself, but your family and your community.
Don’t Be Intimidated
It’s easy to feel intimidation when you first get started. You see these people on TV and read about them online. Surely these politicians have more important issues to deal with than what’s bugging you, right? Wrong. Their job is quite literally to listen to the public and address their issues. As far as being intimidated by their fancy titles or media exposure, forget it. Local politicians are your neighbors. They live in the same community as you. Their kids go to the same schools as yours. They are no more important to this community than you are. They just have a different job description.
Keep an Open Mind
One of the best things about getting involved in local politics is that it opens your eyes to the reality of how things work. You might discover that some of your assumptions were wrong or that a politician you didn’t like is actually doing great work. Be open to changing your mind as you learn more. Being engaged means constantly learning and adjusting your opinions based on the facts you uncover.
And the Most Important Thing…
Don’t forget to vote. It is one of the most important and valuable tools we have as citizens. You may be tempted to make your decision based on some flashy, patriotic TV commercial. Don’t make that rookie mistake. You’re in the game now. Instead of snazzy ads that tell you what you want to hear, look back to the pothole. Is it fixed yet? Remember that answer on Election Day.
