| At every level of government and politics, an | | | | Who cares if because of budget constraints, |
| informed electorate is needed to understand | | | | the routine maintenance of streets is delayed |
| the candidates and issues of their | | | | a year? Until because of that neglect, it is |
| community. That sounds pretty basic doesn't | | | | your vehicle that sustains damage attempting |
| it? Citizens cannot make informed decisions | | | | to utilize that street. |
| before they vote for candidates if they do | | | | |
| not know the individuals running for office. | | | | If you talk with almost any local government |
| Nor, can they make informed judgments on | | | | official, they all recognize and complain |
| issues, if they are not knowledgeable on the | | | | that a lack of communication with the public |
| points of discussion and disagreement. | | | | is a problem. Yet, nobody has an answer to |
| | | | it. Public Notices are printed in newspapers |
| With that in mind, a very disturbing news | | | | and nobody reads them. Public Information |
| article has been published by USA Today. In | | | | Meetings are held on issues of importance and |
| that article they report that local TV | | | | nobody attends. Crazy ideas are proposed and |
| stations have nearly given up covering local | | | | nobody takes them seriously, until after they |
| political races and issues. It further stated | | | | are implemented. |
| that just 8% of the local evening newscasts | | | | |
| in 11 of the nation's largest TV markets | | | | This communication problem has no easy |
| devoted time to local races and issues. | | | | solution. It cannot be solved overnight. It |
| | | | will take baby steps by all concerned to |
| The report which this information comes from | | | | begin to solve the problem. It will take a |
| was prepared by researchers at the Norman | | | | concerted effort by elected officials, the |
| Lear Center at the University of Southern | | | | media and citizens to fight this local |
| California's Annenberg School for | | | | government apathy. |
| Communications, the University of | | | | |
| Wisconsin-Madison and Seton Hall University | | | | The baby step which citizens can take, is to |
| in New Jersey. | | | | start attending meetings. Just one meeting to |
| | | | start. Take two hours out of your busy |
| When we factor into the equation of voter | | | | schedule to show your interest and concern. |
| apathy most people - about 60% - get more of | | | | Fight the urge to throw up your hands in |
| their news from local TV than from any other | | | | despair and claim there is nothing you can |
| single source it is no wonder why we find | | | | do. |
| ourselves in the predicament we are in. Local | | | | |
| government voter apathy, running rampant | | | | If citizens started to show a little interest |
| across the country. | | | | in what is happening in their neighborhood |
| | | | and city, maybe, just maybe, the local media |
| We also can add into the equation of voter | | | | will notice. After they notice, they may |
| apathy, that in small town, USA there is no | | | | decide to start reporting. If they report, |
| local TV coverage whatsoever, because there | | | | maybe more interest will be generated. |
| is no local TV stations. | | | | |
| | | | Or, maybe not. |
| Granted, many issues that local government | | | | |
| deal with seem boring. | | | | But, it might be worth a try? |
| | | | |
| Who cares about storm water runoff? Until it | | | | Al Arnold fights Local Political Apathy at . |
| is your property is that inundated with water | | | | Join the movement to attend one meeting a |
| because of poor planning or design. | | | | year. Sign up for monthly ezine update on |
| | | | progress of the movement for citizens to |
| Who cares about the condition of the Fire | | | | attend one local government meeting a year. |
| Department equipment? Until the high cost of | | | | |
| replacing that equipment, prohibits the Fire | | | | He is also the author of Moving Mountains and |
| Department from adequately protecting your | | | | Molehills Local Politics 101, a book that |
| property. | | | | explains how to be effective in local |
| | | | politics. |