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OrionTheWolf -> Local Politics (5/28/2011 7:40:13 AM)
So how do your views effect (affect?) your local politics? Do you get involved more locally, or nationally in debate about it? Do you feel you have more of an impact on local politics than on national politics? Is your local community divided along party lines, or just issues?

juliaoceania -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 7:54:58 AM)
quote: So how do your views effect (affect?) your local politics? I tend to think that we can have a larger impact on the local level than on the national scene. My politics impact where I want to live in the first place. I want to live in a city that has many services, such as good schools, good hospitals, well developed infrastructure, etc. I also look for communities that invest in their neighborhoods. In other words, a community that inspects apartment dwellings to make sure they are up to code, enforces slumlord laws, and pays for graffiti removal, etc. quote: Do you get involved more locally, or nationally in debate about it? I have went to meetings at the city hall where I used to live, currently I am in transition, and only in my present community for a few months while I do some research, so I have not attempted to get involved. The city where I reside currently is falling down on the job. They have lost federal dollars for improving neighborhoods, etc, because they mismanaged their grants. Basically this city is fill of homes with roofs that are growing moss, gutters growing plants, peeling paint, graffiti, and entire neighborhoods they have abandoned to gang activity. They are laying off just under 30 cops in the midst of this. I am glad I am leaving this place soon. quote: Do you feel you have more of an impact on local politics than on national politics? When I get involved, yes. I also have more of an ability to shape others ideas about national politics at the local level... think global, act local. quote: Is your local community divided along party lines, or just issues? The last community I took part in was extraordinarily diverse, but trended toward democrats. It had many layers and factions... so much so it would be impossible to label like that. The community I live in now, trend in voting democrat, but that doesn't tell you much, either.

Musicmystery -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 8:03:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf So how do your views effect (affect?) your local politics Obviously my views affect my local politics. If you mean how do my national views do this, not much of a national level applies. The really big issues here revolve around local matters and some state ones--the land claims, native cigarette tax collection, farm and local business concerns. quote: Do you get involved more locally, or nationally in debate about it? Both. Locally more when it applies; I've been interviewed on radio/TV, and I'm active in creating programs to help. I've also written several local columns. Here, we look for solutions (and find them) rather than rhetoric. I'm also active in national politics, but I don't do that locally. I publish nationally for those issues. quote: Do you feel you have more of an impact on local politics than on national politics? Hard to say, since I do a of opinion pieces. I know they are read, because whenever I stop for a while, people write in to ask about it. I see it mainly as planting seeds. People do things for their own interests, and have to come to conclusions themselves. quote: Is your local community divided along party lines, or just issues? Primarily issues, with some exceptions among the Beckies. Going by voting results, I'd say 15-20% party lines, and the rest issues. We've had long term Democrats in state office (Assembly and Senate) in heavily Republican (rural) districts, precisely because they focus on local issues. People even refer to them by their first names, because so many people have received help. Lots of good, practical decisions. They are more "farmer who gets it" than a party. Nationally, I'm in the NY-23 (it snakes across 11 counties), and you know the result there. Despite the national rhetoric, the Democrat won not at all because of party anything, but because he was on top of the issues and the conservative candidate from another district showed up at a debate completely clueless (and I DO mean clueless, even though the debate topics were publicized in advance). He remains in constant touch, even has regular phone town-meetings. Also, our Democrat Senators aren't in office merely because NY has more Democrats, but because they hit every county and maintain in touch about several issues and get them resolved. I've frequently used them (and Republican ones too) in the past to get results when otherwise stymied.

willbeurdaddy -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 8:05:44 AM)
my views are the same whether the issues are local or national...quasi-libertarian much more locally obviously more, but how much more is tough to tell the local debate is over issues, you rarely even see a candidate's party on their election signs, and rarely see national election signs/bumper stickers

juliaoceania -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 8:10:43 AM)
I wonder if people choose where to live based upon their views of what type of role government should have... I remember hearing about a study that showed those who live in cities trended towards more progressive ideas about government due to the fact that they saw how government worked in every day life. In other words, if you rely on trash removal, city streets working, a modern fire department, police that come when you call... etc.... you see government in action. On the other hand if you live in a really rural place, have to haul your trash to the dump, are a long distance away from calling a policeman, have no stop light signals.... etc.. you probably do not see government as being very important to your existence.

Louve00 -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 8:11:21 AM)
I also get involved locally. In fact I feel my impact on a national level, being who I know and what I know has no impact, although I do sign national petitions and do vote. Leaning toward the liberal side, I tend to fight/protest/get involved with people of the same association. For example, I am rigorously attending rallies and signing petitions against our tea party FL governor, Rick Scott. I've even walked door to door, rallying for those petitions, in particular for voter suppression that Scott is trying to sign into law. But equally, have rallied for signatures on a petition for making a woman who wants an abortion view a sonogram of the fetus she wants aborted and she has to sign off on it. This is despite her reasons for needing an abortion, whether it be health issues for the mother, the baby, or the circumstance (rape being one example of circumstance). I kind of like Julia's outlook on it all and pretty much take that stance. Think global and act local. I just feel more effective on a local level. And it beats just arguing without doing anything.

TheHeretic -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 8:43:41 AM)
The traditional partisan lines really don't apply much to our local issues. The exception would be the impact of the multi-generational lifestyle dependent class who have moved up here to see their welfare dollars and Section 8 vouchers go farther. We argue about whether the water supply is better used by farmers or developers. We argue about zoning, and code enforcement. There are two cities, right next door to each other, that bicker like 10 year olds who have drawn a line down the middle of a shared bedroom, and a collection of smaller, unincorporated communities, trying to preserve a distinct flavor in the quality of life.

OrionTheWolf -> RE: Local Politics (5/28/2011 9:23:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf So how do your views effect (affect?) your local politics? I believe that everything starts at the local level, so if you want to make change, it starts there. quote: Do you get involved more locally, or nationally in debate about it? I have written letters to local papers, chat more with neighbors and people at the store about local issues. With so much party division, rhetoric, and bickering matches on national issues, I don't see much true debate anymore. quote: Do you feel you have more of an impact on local politics than on national politics? By far more locally. In fact it was several of us that did digging to find out a couple of commissioners had relatives invested in some development projects that were proposed. We also worked with county leaders to create incentives for a few large corp to expand here. quote: Is your local community divided along party lines, or just issues? It is mainly a republican area here, but it seems most work together with a moderate view to take care of problems.

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