We interrupt this presidential election with a reminder: The presidential election, as important as it is, is just one race. Don’t let the spectacle distract you from state and local contests.
I say this because I’ve been blindsided when I didn’t take a peek at the sample ballot in advance. That is, there were races I didn’t even know about, and I felt unable to vote reasonably and intelligently in those races. It hasn’t happened in a long while, because I hate feeling like a deadbeat citizen.
I’ve come to believe that one of the many things that ail our political system is being hypnotized that things only happen from the top down. We want saviors—but it’s harder than that. Or, when it comes to politics, as Pogo would say, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Local politics can be dreary as hell. And it’s a lot easier to share snarky, zingy Facebook memes than to say, attend the local school board meeting. Or keep track of city council agendas. But it matters.
When I edited an alt-weekly in Champaign-Urbana lo these many years ago, I watched city council meetings on cable—I’d attend particularly important ones, but cable was a godsend. It allowed me to stay home, and go grab a sandwich, and from time to time, curse. There was a lot of malarkey, to be sure, but you know—Urbana and Champaign city council members spent a lot of time on that job. And mostly, they were sincere and operated in good faith.
Working that newspaper job taught me a lot about the value of local, or as it’s now called, community journalism. And how bad it is that local papers have been replaced by really weak attempts like DNA info, Chicagoist, you name it.
That job at the alt-weekly also taught me how important local politics is, and what a meaningful impact citizens can make when they get involved. That starts with paying attention and voting.
On that note:
- Please vote.
- Before you do, check out a sample ballot for your address. There are some national sites like ballotpedia.org or the League of Women Voters’ Vote411, but the most reliable bets for sample ballots are your local board of elections or your state election commission. There are also state and local non-profit orgs—here in Illinois Vote IL is a good resource.
Another site that’s useful if you want to follow the money is the Center for Responsive Politics.
Also, in case I forgot: Vote.
Thank you for that reminder. Local tv had debate tonight for state senator – arghh- I will research. I will vote.
Yay. Yeah, tv debates, yuck.
We voted today and yes, find out what the questions are on the bottom of the ballot. A bit confusing. And, as usual, tons of judges.
Thanks for the reminder about the judges. Have to look at the bar assn recs.
Great recommendations, Mike. And, more importantly, good advice. I always vote, but the key word to your urgent and imploring message is “intelligently.” That is the key ingredient of a functioning democracy and without it, we are just rolling dice. Thank you for reminding all of us that there is more at stake than a presidential election.
Thanks Mel. The process seems to defy intelligence sometimes:)
Not knowing whether we’d be here, Roy and I already voted. But thanks, I have friends from all over the world, begging me to tell everyone I know to VOTE!!! And you did, thanks. I do too.
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