Im getting involved in local politics...

Let me first start by saying im a millenial. Yes my generation does not participate in politics but we are still young. Heres my plan....

First i talked to a few buddies of mine who are property owners and work in the area, pay taxes in the area and are somewhat interested in local politics. Next i start a Facegroup book dedicated to active membership discussion so we can work on our perspective before the meetings and show in solidarity.

The main topics of interests for me will be local PD accountability, how contracts are bid on and decided, budget issues and medical cannabis.

So i went to a few of the Facebook groups i am part of and post a message asking locals who are interested to join my group. So far i have 2 people who are willing to go. Im going to be bringing my ipad and having one of the members record the meeting for editing and uploading to a website. I am also considering starting a podcast and printing out info on brochures and flyers that connect people to the website and have small bits of critical info. Ill hand these out at the meeting but in a respectful manner. We will be dressed appropriately and were going to discuss our positions and create a dialogue that we stick to so we are all on exactly the same page and articulate.

Ill keep you posted if your interested. I just want to share my solution with anyone else looking to get involved in their own communities.

Suggestions welcome.

a reply to: onequestion

Great start!!!

Best of luck and much success!!

S&F

Change the World...

Best of Luck...What Region are you in ?

My wife had only one hesitation about marring me. I had to promise not to run for Office.

a reply to: whyamIhere

Pennsylvania.

Sounds like a great plan! Wishing you all the best with it!

a reply to: onequestion

Good luck to you on your path.

It's a tough thing to do in bigger cities I was involved in Chicago when I lived there and let me tell you i got burned out from all the B.S.

Sincerely good luck to you.
Sal.

PA! Excellent. Are you working at the city/borough or county level? I'm mid-40s and just throwing my hat into the ring for the first time due to so many problems with our school board. There's a position open since the president of the board (thankfully) steped down. I'm presenting for that Monday. If the board puts in a ringer again, I'm preparing for the primaries in May. And I'm a very shy, very quiet wallflower - they just pissed me off too much.

We have a parents' group that was formed on Facebook, and that has been wildly successful! Beyond organizing to clean out the board, we have also done petition drives, charity projects, library book challenges. Quite a good way to go. With Faceboook and some judicious advertising $$ (about $5 per group member) the parent group has been able to pack every single meeting and inform citizens of what's going on.

a reply to: Mountainmeg

Thats awesome! Yes my sentiment exactly. I am almost infuriated with how things are done. I really like what your doing i wish there was a way we could build a bridge to work together.

a reply to: onequestion

i hate to do this but i feel that it maybe important to what you are trying to do because a lot of people don't like to place their trust in certain types.

is this just a local action group or are you trying to hold office? reason i ask aren't you a convicted felon, if you run for office if elected you can not serve/ hold the office, because my understanding a convicted felon in Pennsylvania can run, but cant take or hold the office if he wins, unless that has changed in the past two years.

now i don't know what you were convicted of, and i do know that people change. but there are some crimes that you just can't come back from no matter how good your heart is trust level wise in some peoples eyes.

a reply to: hounddoghowlie

Im not running for anything.

a reply to: onequestion

Where at?(I know PA..)

And you should listen to this..

From :43 to 1:00 about..

I had given local politics a little thought, like going to all the township meetings. Maybe some grass roots, door-to-door politicking after digging into the issues. But, from what I've seen, even on the ground floor level of township, or county, there is plenty of dirty players teamed up with their cronies and relatives who want to keep on being the big fish in a little puddle.

If I were to be elected to some office, it would be my mission to find out what the tax paying citizens want in their community and try to get that for them. Transparency and calling out corruption would be part of it too. Seems like the kind of thing that would get you a few political enemies you never had before. I don't think I would be too helpful to the business interests unless it is something the people wanted.

I think I'm better off not even going to the township meetings or doing any political stuff. These nosy gossips around here all ready have their opinion of me and my swamp living life style. The folks up on the hills and high ground don't have much respect for us swamp people, why stir them up.

a reply to: onequestion

I am just SO HAPPY to hear this! Ever since I became aware of you here on ATS, I thought you should get into politics at some level. (Remember I said that?) I wish you all the luck in the world! The future of this planet is in the hands of the youth - not that you're THAT young, but it is my opinion that you could lead people...

a reply to: onequestion

Oh, I think you'd enjoy the show here. We have the prophetess of Emmitsburg, MD applying for the open position.

Our Lady of Emmitsburg

It is good to see people take an active role in their community. Facebook is a great tool for social discussion and communication. As for forming a group specifically for the local community then local meetings are the way to go. Maybe take a tour and check out how your local government works, then you start to know who to talk to and what they need to get things moving.

Somethings in government can happen very quickly, while others do take generations. Be patient and learn the system to make the most of it.

a reply to: onequestion


good luck
few more members & you can start playing who's-the-shill

a reply to: Mountainmeg


Hay, look around an try to get some other regular folks to run with you so when you get there it wont be to much like Mr. Smith going to Washington.

a reply to: ThichHeaded


There is no freedom in a socialist democracy.