I’ve heard plenty of mockery of local politics. It has a reputation for being petty and even corrupt in places, but local governments still have a surprising amount of power to shape neighbourhoods and influence how people live.
One of the things I like about my small town is that the issues of local government are tangible and manageable - it doesn’t feel as overwhelming as it might in a city, or even a bigger town. Right now, they’re hammering out the latest version of the official community plan, charting the future development of the town. The issues are similar to larger centers - environmental and agricultural issues, recreation projects, business development, future residential growth.
Professionalized politics seems disgusting to me, and I will never be a politician in the traditional sense, but I think it’s time to get more involved rather than just complaining when it doesn’t go my way.
