How do you feel about Local Government?

[JanMichael]

I occasionally see a blanket anti-gummint sentiment here at DU and I'm wondering how pervasive that attitude is.

But not just the Feds! What I'm talking about are the lowest, yet most responsive, levels like County and Municipal.

Of course there are "bad" cities, and "bad" councils, but generally speaking the people that I know in Local Government are involved in their community and care about doing as good a job as possible.

Yes, there are some assholes, but those are everywhere!

There are also people scattered throughout departments that REALLY want to help. The best way to find them?

ASK QUESTIONS! Be polite but ASK.

Another thing that's beautiful about the "low" levels is that YOU can influence how councils vote (I've seen it time and time again: Usually there are 2 people present for a meeting, then when someone PACKS the chamber votes get changed! Most local elected officials are fairly easily convinced by a large crowd, they aren't all brilliant orators dammit!), as well as run for office YOURSELF.

If you don't like it CHANGE IT!

If you hate them is it due to specific experiances that have clouded everything else?

Is it because you don't feel empowered to effect change?

Just curious.

[Clete]

1. Well, the most disfunctional local government I lived under

was in LA County. I left ten years ago and it still is disfunctional. Nothing has changed except the faces on the boards and councils. The same problems are there with the schools, transportation, smog, etc. etc..

I don't live in a municipality anymore so I seldom am bothered by local bureaucrats anymore. So I guess I don't really care for them.

[JanMichael]

2. Why do you think it is "Disfunctional"?

Too big and unwieldy? What makes it not work?

Also. Have you every lived in a well administered city?

[Clete]

3. I don't know why it is.

All I could ever do is vote, but it just is no matter how one votes. I have an aversion to cities to tell the truth and I lived in LA for thirty years because of job and work, no other reason.

[Pastiche423]

4. My local government

is quite like the Feds as they are pro-corporations.

One of the activists groups I am a member of, is Concerned Citizens for Representative Government.

We have begun to sponsor forums that provide the public w/what is going on in our county. We bring in a myraid of business owners to speak, as well as speakers for businesses that the powers that be are trying to sell to the community. (The latter which puts money in the pockets of the wealthy and none to the average citizen.) This watch dog approach is making at least one of our commissioners very nervous.

[oneighty]

5. Local government

funded by property taxes is unfair. The only fair tax is based on ability to pay;a progressive income tax. Until local taxes become income based local government services will continue to decline. Our village services are declining now and the propert taxes continue to increase. People will be losing their homes.

IMHO.

180

[JanMichael]

7. Raise the Homestead Exemption. Voila.

There are other ways too. Take it out of Income Taxes and Sales taxes (VAT) and proportionally fund every city and county.

One way or the other though there will be cities and counties. People demand them. They may not like paying for them but the absence of such Incorporated areas is usually a messy environment. Development, utilities, roads, public ares are all desirable things.

[zoidberg]

6. I'm happy

Live in Alexandria, VA now. The streets get cleared after a snowstorm, the potholes get filled in and the libraries keep getting new books. I had my tire slashed in my apartment parking lot and the police actually called me that evening to report it to me (and no, I don't live in a rich, white area). I don't have any kids, so I can't comment on the schools, but I haven't heard any complaints. All and all, I must say that I've been pleased. By the way, everyone on city council is a Democrat.

[never cry wolf]

8. for the most part, good

i live in a medium sized, quickly growing burb of chicago. i am the senior member of the plan commission, 14 years now, and have survived three administrations. the reason for that is i keep my nose out of the local politics which at times is nothing but a cat fight. thankfully our current board and mayor are stable and conscientious and the cats have moved to the school board. half the board and the mayor started out their "political" career protesting a single issue at plan commission meeting and later were my junion on the commission before moving on to an elected post. they are not dems or repugs but "citizens first", the hours are long, pay almost non-existant and everyone wants to tell em how their awful neighbor needs to trim his bushes or turn down the music. thank god for these dedicated people.