Let's shape the debate, what can we do to get to get politicians to talk about local issues ?

Question

Our schools, childern etc....

Answer 1

Honestly, the best practice is writing letters and e-mails. Local/regional/state politicians pay attention to constituants who write to them. Federal office holders may not be so receptive. For example, write a letter, then give it to friends as a template to write their own. The more letters, the more e-mails, the better the response.

For example, my neighborhood got together and wrote dozens of letters regarding speeders in our streets. After a month of letters, action was taken. Cops were parked on our street. Village board put in speed humps and voted to split the stree into two cul-de-sacs to stop the people whizzing down our street.

Another action was our local school board. We had a board member who acted like a tyrant. After dozens of letters, the other board members had her removed from the board.

Answer 2

The hard truth?

Make personal phone calls and write letters (not emails) to the politicians offices that you want to affect and give money to the ones you support with very clear info on the issue you will be tracking -- or better yet, inform them of your interest in "becoming involved significantly supporting local elected officials" and what your top issues are and what you would like to see done.

This is really what mos elected officials respond to -- and sadly if you can give a religious, "moral" or divisive spin to the issue you care about, the faster-track the issue will be to having action taken.

Only real way to shape the debate is to get enough of your friends / colleagues to support YOU, run for office and don't become corrup like they all do once elected...

Great question -- thanks for caring to make your community better!

Answer 3

You're looking to the wrong politicians to talk about local issues.

The Federal government should not be involved in your local issues. They should be limited to the powers provided explicitely in the Constitution to keep our country running but no more. All else should be delegated to the states as it says in the 10th Ammendment.

Your state need to delegate more power to the local communities where most of the major decisions should be made, where you will have the most influence and contact with the politicians.

Answer 4

Which politicians are you talking about?

Your mayor and town council should talk about local issues. Go to your town's meeting and ask direct questions. For example, "When are you going to fix the potholes on Johnson Road?"

At your school board ask, "Why doesn't the Curriculum contain more Asian (African, Hispanic, European) studies?”

At your county government ask, “What is the disaster plan for a flood, tornado, earthquake, etc?”

Get the idea.

The president and congress aren’t going to answer those questions, only your local officials will do that.
?"

Answer 5

Support politicians that feel as you do in local elections. If you can't find one, then you need to talk to the ones that you do have and talk to all your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members and everyone else you can talk to to show your locals that there is a voice in their town that they must listen to.

Answer 6

Vote in local elections.Vote in state elections.vote in federal elections.Why should they listen when only 1/3 or less of the citizens vote?

Answer 7

Perhaps have town hall meetings like they do up East.

Answer 8

good