Most of us want the same things from our local and state governments: public health and safety, good schools, attractive common areas, decent roads, financial stewardship.
We elect leaders, but we don’t do our share of the work afterward. I believe we could achieve great satisfaction, and see government optimize or even reduce our taxes, if each of us would make a few changes:
• Study issues and candidates.
• Vote.
• Choose a couple of boards, councils or legislative groups whose work interests us, or where we have expertise, and attend their meetings (insist that meetings are accessible).
• Dig into their documents. Do facts back up claims? Is there waste?
• Testify, petition, write letters, make our opinions known.
• Hold elected officials accountable.
Stripping resources away from our government is not the way to progress. We should be stepping up as partners.
