From Deseret News archives:
Engage in local politics — early and often
Instead, I get heartburn when I hear this sort of talk, which is much more prevalent in the election season or when a governmental body addresses an issue that directly affects neighborhoods. Most of the time people are asleep at the switch when it comes to local government. Until an issue impacts them.
Then they come out swinging, which is their right and responsibility. They should be engaged. But they should be engaged all the time.
This is particularly true of Utah's public schools. If you have kids, you should make it your business to acquaint yourself with your local and state school boards. Considering school districts take the biggest bite of your property tax bill, anyone who owns property should keep abreast of public school finance and policymaking.
At the risk of appearing self-serving, might I remind you of the value of reading the newspaper. Our reporters and editors go to those pesky public meetings so you don't have to. I realize I'm preaching to the choir, but how does anyone pretend to be socially competent if they don't know what's going on in their neighborhood, community, state, nation and world? If you can't commit to reading a newspaper, at least read the newsletters sent to you by municipal governments, school boards and special districts.
Then, exercise your First Amendment right by speaking out at government meetings and public hearings. Write letters to the editor.
I bristle when I hear "accountability" because I've always believed that accountability is a two-way street. It starts when people file to run for office. Do most people bother to find out anything about half the people they vote for (or against) each election cycle? Do they have a problem with incumbents serving decades in elected office? Do they study ballot initiatives before they cast a ballot or do they risk being persuaded by sound bites on broadcast news or, worse, campaign advertisements?
Is the problem that government is not accountable or that the public isn't sufficiently engaged?
It's both and it's happening at a time when it's never been easier to demand accountability or to participate in the process.
There's a jillion ways to be involved without ever leaving one's home. Seemingly every elected official in Utah has a telephone and e-mail address. Most, if not all, governmental bodies have their agendas available online. Some meetings are broadcast on cable and Web casts. Engagement is but a mouse click away.
But who wants to watch the Podunk City Council meeting on cable when they can be watching "Fear Factor" or some equally inane television programming? Who wants to give up an occasional Tuesday night to attend a school board meeting because being an active participant in government — when your ox isn't being gored — is important, too? Then, when the issue affects your home or your school or your child, you're not reinventing the wheel. You will grasp how government works (and how it doesn't) so you know how to do the dance when the time arrives.
At the end of the day, voters have the ultimate accountability device. They can throw out the rascals on election day. But this supposes that the people who are normally disengaged make the effort to show up to the polls.
Marjorie Cortez is Deseret Morning News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com
