How To Stay Engaged With Local Politics

In this information age, many of us are still uninformed about things that affect our lives on a daily basis. What could I possibly be talking about? Well, I'm glad you asked, I'm talking politics. That's right, folks; today you're going to learn about the fantastic world of politics, but not the boring politics you are taught in government class. We're going to be talking about how to learn about the things that matter most to you and how to cut through the political jargon and echo chambers you see on Facebook and National News. Step one to becoming more knowledgeable about the policies that are affecting your community is to remember to make an active effort each day to check on issues you might have noticed. Like anything you do in life, starting you might not be great at the task when you first start, but after some practice, you'll be noticing things left and right. There is no issue too big or small to be addressed; as an informed citizen, you need to understand that problems don't get solved if they go unsaid. The best way to get in the habit of thinking about issues that affect your community is to create a daily journal. Journaling gives you a chance to reflect on anything that might be on your mind and flesh out thoughts you might have. I suggest setting aside some time in the morning or before bed to journal; those times tend to work well for journaling with most people. Step two in becoming one of the most knowledgeable people in your friend group about local politics is to simply read the newspaper. Local newspapers offer great insight into relevant issues that are occurring in your city. Most local papers tend to be less sensationalized when compared to national newspapers, so reading shouldn't be too polarizing. By reading and learning about what's in the news you're able to form your own thoughts and opinions about matters, and how relevant they are to you. By no means am I telling you to read every newspaper you get front to back, but I am encouraging you to pick up the habit of reading the paper for things that affect your life. Not all newspapers are created equally and that is to be expected. That is why it is up to you as a reader to verify the topics reported, and recognize statements of facts vs. statements of opinion. Before you go out and tell people about something you might have read in the newspaper, take a few minutes to look into their sources and see if what they're saying is creditable. I know this might sound like a lot of work, but trust me, it will help you out in the long run and leads me to step three. The third and final step in becoming the engaged citizen you've always wanted to be is, participate within your community. Once you understand the idea that you're a part of something bigger than yourself, steps one and two become so much easier. Ways to become more involved within the community range PTA meeting at a school to City Hall meeting that are open to the public. I personally like to attend my local HOA meetings. They're an excellent way for me to meet the people that live in my neighborhood, and many local city officials also attend. People running for elected office often attend HOA meetings to hear the thoughts of votes and get a feel for what matters most to the different areas of a city. If you're thinking to yourself, "Wow, this sounds like a lot of work," you're not alone. I felt the same way at first, but I made the conscious effort to try each day and trying is all that truly matters. If you just try for one minutes each day and get a little better because of it, but at the end of the year the progress made will be monumental. You don't have to go out there and change the world… but it doesn't hurt to try.