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Local Government Apathy - Alarming Statistics

At every level of government and politics, anWho cares about the condition of the Fire
informed electorate is needed to understandDepartment equipment? Until the high cost of
the candidates and issues of theirreplacing that equipment, prohibits the Fire
community. That sounds pretty basic doesn'tDepartment from adequately protecting your
it? Citizens cannot make informed decisionsproperty.
before they vote for candidates if they do
not know the individuals running for office.Who cares if because of budget constraints,
Nor, can they make informed judgments onthe routine maintenance of streets is delayed
issues, if they are not knowledgeable on thea year? Until because of that neglect, it is
points  of  discussion  and  disagreement.your vehicle that sustains damage attempting
to  utilize  that  street.
With that in mind, a very disturbing news
article has been published by USA Today. InIf you talk with almost any local government
that article they report that "local TVofficial, they all recognize and complain
stations have nearly given up covering localthat a lack of communication with the public
political races and issues." It furtheris a problem. Yet, nobody has an answer to
stated that "just 8% of the local eveningit. Public Notices are printed in newspapers
newscasts in 11 of the nation's largest TVand nobody reads them. Public Information
markets devoted time to local races andMeetings are held on issues of importance and
issues."nobody attends. Crazy ideas are proposed and
nobody takes them seriously, until after they
The report which this information comes fromare  implemented.
was prepared by researchers at the Norman
Lear Center at the University of SouthernThis communication problem has no easy
California's Annenberg School forsolution. It cannot be solved overnight. It
Communications, the University ofwill take baby steps by all concerned to
Wisconsin-Madison and Seton Hall Universitybegin to solve the problem. It will take a
in  New  Jersey.concerted effort by elected officials, the
media and citizens to fight this local
When we factor into the equation of votergovernment  apathy.
apathy "most people - about 60% - get more of
their news from local TV than from any otherThe "baby step" which citizens can take, is
single source" it is no wonder why we findto start attending meetings. Just one meeting
ourselves in the predicament we are in. Localto start. Take two hours out of your busy
government voter apathy, running rampantschedule to show your interest and concern.
across  the  country.Fight the urge to throw up your hands in
despair and claim there is nothing you can
We also can add into the equation of voterdo.
apathy, that in small town, USA there is no
local TV coverage whatsoever, because thereIf citizens started to show a little interest
is  no  local  TV  stations.in what is happening in their neighborhood
and city, maybe, just maybe, the local media
Granted, many issues that local governmentwill notice. After they notice, they may
deal  with  seem  boring.decide to start reporting. If they report,
maybe  more  interest  will  be  generated.
Who cares about storm water runoff? Until it
is your property is that inundated with waterOr,  maybe  not.
because  of  poor  planning  or  design.
But, it might be worth a try?



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