Let’s face it, New Year’s resolutions rarely amount to anything. Once the novelty of the new year wears off, we all pretty much go back to our old habits for the rest of the year until it is time to make resolutions again.
Rather than make resolutions for the New Year, it is our suggestion that we, as a community, commit ourselves to become more active in public affairs in the new year.
Politicians are not elected to rule, no matter what some will tell you. They are elected to represent, and to insure that they do, citizen have to live into their civic responsibilities 366 (in 2024) days of the year. Th public has the responsibility to watch over what elected officials are doing and hold them accountable.
One favorite debate tactic commissioners use on the commission dias is to proclaim, “I got a ton of emails on this issue.” Often, that is not a true statement.
More often than not, when the reporters at The Augusta Press request copies of all emails to and from a particular commissioner on a particular matter, there is an amazingly small number of constituent communications.
As citizens, we need to make our voice heard, and that means taking the time to send the commissioners email and even flood their inboxes if necessary.
Citizens constantly complain that the commissioners who steadily hold up progress are not their district’s commissioner, and so they are powerless as they never voted for that particular politician. That is not entirely true either.
Just because a citizen does not live in a particular district does not prevent them from contributing to the campaign of an opponent who might do a better job. Even a small contribution helps buy road signs and pamphlets.
The sorry, unkempt appearance of our city, homeless people wandering the streets, bumbling department heads who need a feasibility study to change a lightbulb and the financial corruption that dominates the news headlines is a reflection on us as a citizenry.
Therefore, let us commit, not just resolve, to becoming more active, more vocal and make 2024 a banner year for the Garden City.
Happy New Year!
