URBAN PERSPECTIVE - I am on a mission to encourage people to be less apathetic when it comes to politics. Our economic downturn and California budget crisis is attributed to people’s lack of engagement.
We read about politics in the paper and express our comments through casual conversations. We involve ourselves in coffee discussions at coffee houses about politics. Some of us bring political discussions to work because our jobs are somehow associated. At what point do we move past discussion to action?
Here is a good example of apathy in action. Vacant political seats are often decided before people are elected to them. Career politicians are running unopposed leaving us at the disadvantage of having our interests and needs unmet.
I can speak to this well because I see it almost every election for City Council, California Senate and Assembly, and United States Congress in my area. It is the same people running for office with the platform of giving the constituents promises of change.
I know as a constituent I am tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. I want to see and hear new ideas or approaches to handling problems that have long plagued our community. More so, I want genuine follow through action on the promises.
I know it is hard not to succumb to cynical thoughts when it comes to politics. You are bombarded by polls and other forms of measurements as it relates to those running for political office or a particular ballot initiative. However, you can’t hold politicians accountable or be surprised by the outcome of ballot initiatives if you don’t get involved or better yet, show up and cast your vote.
I refuse to be apathetic. I look into how my politicians perform for my benefit, such as their voting and attendance records. I make it a point to share information with others about important legislative matters and how it affects the community positively or negatively. I engage myself in these activities because I care.
Plus, I don’t want to excuse myself from my fundamental right and obligation to impact government.
We need to wake up. Apathy is killing our communities. We’ve got to put a stop to apathy through community mobilization and the power of the vote. We can’t continue to be apathetic to the crisis our Country and great State of California is facing.
Our leaders need to hear from us and feel that they are accountable for their actions.
(Janet Denise Kelly offers more than a decade of accomplishments in the housing and nonprofit sector. Janet brings valuable insight in the areas of community and economic development. Additionally, she brings knowledge regarding the leadership and management challenges faced by large and small nonprofits that are struggling or growing organizations. She blogs at jdkellyenterprises.org) –cw
Tags: vote, politics, apathy, political apathy, apathy to action, City Council, South LA, South Los Angeles, Janet Denise Kelly
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 5
Pub: Jan 24, 2012