AngelaJossy's Blog
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Jun. 18, 2009 at 5:57pm
A question of politics
Is the
following statement true?
If you really care about the community and want to make a difference don't run for office. Official positions have so many regulations that your hands (and your tongue) will be tied and you won't be able to help with the issues that you care most about.
comments [8] | posted under communitty, politics, public service, Tacoma
Comments
 by Thorax O'Tool on 6/18/2009 @ 6:08pm | 99% true. You'll likely be able to make a small difference at low levels. Maybe City Council? Metro Parks Board of Commissioners? Mayor, even? At this low level, there are regulations and such, but you still have a small chance to do something meaningful. Go any higher than local, and forget it. That's corrupt millionaire corporate slave territory. We "little people" are purposefully kept out. If you really care about the community, get off your ass and do something! Join/form a citizens' group, go clean a park, go mow an elderly neighbor's lawn. |
 by Maria on 6/18/2009 @ 7:34pm | en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforc...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hatfield |
 by NineInchNachos on 6/18/2009 @ 7:42pm | 2009 is the year of the community organizer |
 by jenyum on 6/18/2009 @ 9:05pm | I still believe there is a lot that can be done by the people in office. What's important is to not sit back and hope other people have their ears on the issues that matter to you. Professional lobbyists have all day to spend hanging out in legislative office buildings, so we have to cancel that out by making sure we're there at least a few times a year, or at least calling and writing when we can. When enough people do that, it *does* make a difference.
Of course, that assumes we're paying attention to the bills that are on the agenda. |
 by Nathe on 6/18/2009 @ 9:24pm | As I said on Facebook, No. It does not.
What has happened in the past 3 decades is that we, as a society, have been convinced the government is a "them", that it is not of, by and for we the people. We have been instilled with a media induced complacency that leads to inaction and lack of communication with elected officials, social organizations and other clubs and groups that can lead to a change in law and procedure. It is my hope that we can reignite this spark in the electorate. Everyone who has commented on this thread is a type of agitator, and I mean that in the good sense. The government of this country has always been of, by and for We the People. (only if you pay attention and are involved). Please choose to be involved. I care less which party, but get active and be involved. Tag, you're it. |
 by morgan on 6/18/2009 @ 9:27pm | I second what jenyum says.
You can create change at a "lower" level office (I don't like that term!) - so long as people want change - leaders included. I'm hoping there's a rise in the number of people who would like to see Tacoma change. The thing with politics though is that it's so political. For some, it's a game. For others, it's blind affiliation. Still others are there to swing hefty government contracts to friends. There are many back in Pierce County that continue to get scratched. From my perspective, if you want to make change in Tacoma you need to be focused, persistent, and flexible. Leadership will usually act if they feel there is a crowd behind them. Se we need both: leaders who will act and a community to push them forward. |
by Marty C. on 6/18/2009 @ 10:09pm | Angela, I have to disagree with you.
While there may be some instances where you may have to bite your tongue, you can still be involved. Elected officials still have the given right and even the responsibility to speak to and work on issues that are import to them and those they represent. The problem arises when they spend more time working on their issues and not their constituents issues. Leaders get the job done, regardless of the restrictions and obstacles place before them. Leaders continue to do it, day in and day out, for the right reasons. That hard part for many is the sustained level of high intensity devotion to multitude of topics and issues. |
 by scout on 6/18/2009 @ 10:19pm | Marty C
You sound an awful lot like a wanna be politician.... Just my opinionation....... |
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