Call to arms

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Figure out what your local municipality is. Find out what vacancies exist and fill them. Boards, commissions, committees, whatever. At the very least, go the to municipal website and read what's going on.

Everyone's attention is on the national stage. People bicker about stuff that barely or indirectly affects them, macro issues like the national economy, abortion, race relations, etc.

Meanwhile, right in your back yard, decisions are being made that are going to directly affect where you live, how your children are educated, and how much of your tax dollars are being taken out of your pocket. And by and large those decisions are being made by self-serving and/or under-informed dolts.

I hate to put it like that, but by and large, people who have the biggest interests in what's going on tend to be the least involved. Either people have no interest in local government or the feel like they're already torn with jobs and children to allocate much time to the get involved. SO what you, in far too many cases, are those people who either crave the position, or who have nothing else going on ( obv. not always the case, but its getting worse every year).

Let me put some of those concerns to rest. Typically, this participation doesn't end up taking much of your time at all. Usually one or two nights a month. Secondly, even if you can't participate fully. Having 50% of a competent person is better than 100% dolt.

Don't believe me, here's a few examples:

- Regardless of the size, condition, use, or maintenance of the septic system, local people are now being required to pay $300 to have their system pumped out and inspected every 2 and in some cases 3 years. The percentage of failing systems is minor, but the 90% of people with low risk, well maintained systems being forced to pay this fee for what is effectively no service.

- Local municipalities negotiated to add a tax to your cable bill. Check your bill out and it will say $0.40 or whatever directly to your local municipality each month. They'll pitch that as a fee to Comcast, but its written in the legislation to be an added tax to YOU the user. Currently many municipalities are negotiating to increase that fee. The major part of that negotiation is get Comcast to take the municipalities name off the bill. Still charge the tax mind you, just not disclose who it's going to. Oh, and the service provided to you the consumer for the fees paid, NOTHING...just the right to have cable !

I could go on and on, the example are numerous and in cases far more substantial than the two issues above. Point is...if you ain't driving the bus, then you're just along for the ride.

Take the small time it takes, read about what's going on, and get involved in your community.