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Get to know your Elected Officials - Click!
You don't need to go to Washington, DC or your state capital to get to know your elected officials. What you should know is who your elected representatives are.I recently took a trip to my state capital of Jefferson City, Missouri, to support a group that helps people with head injuries as well as physical and mental disabilities.
The trip rekindled my interest in being involved with state and local politics, as it is at that level individuals have the best opporitunity to have a voice in government. It is also at this level where elected officials understand the issues that are important in your community, not just the issues that are important to a small group of men in a smoke filled room.
Every state seems to have a small little clique of upper brass state officials. It is usually composed of people who are in the greatest position of power or part of a family has had a history of wealth or strong relationships with corporate leaders. At the federal level, it is pretty obvious. At state level not as much. The further down the ladder, at regional district, county, and municipal levels, the greater chance there is for individuals to contact and make friends with their elected officials. The highest level of communication should be at municipal ward or municipal district level. But then you have cities with about 50,000 people where all they do is meet up every other Tuesday and say "I" to whatever proposal the mayor thinks is a good idea making the meetings feel scripted or predetermined.
So the best idea would probably be to get to know who your elected officals are.
Labels: foia, government, missouri, politics
posted by Bushido Hacks 3/15/2008 12:22:00 PM
