AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 18
Monday, February 18, 2008
Do local issues get lost when there’s a national race?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Quick - can anybody tell me what local offices and initiatives will be on the ballot this November? Anybody? Bueller?
The late Speaker of the House of Representatives “Tip” O’Neill once stated that “All politics is local.” Unless we’re talking star power, then local politics can’t hold a candle to our fascination with the national players.
And that’s too bad because we get so caught up in the national races we neglect to find out enough about the people who will be affecting our lives on a day-to-day basis. Sure, presidential candidate X wants to lower your taxes with some plan that will need years to navigate the U.S. Congress, but local candidate X can actually do it in one evening with one vote.
The problem is that the national races seem more fun to watch and are easier to keep up with. National candidates have millions at their disposal, enough to hire a small army to make them look and sound good. It’s the ultimate reality show, but those things are for entertainment and election should be serious events for serious people.
It’s easy to get seduced by national politics. They are several press accounts of former President Bill Clinton and Democratic hopeful Barack Obama showing up at their individual rallies and having the affect of a rock star walking in. I’m sure they’re nice guys, but rock stars? Don’t think so.
I was talking to a friend last week and jokingly asked if he’d been watching the debates. In all seriousness he said he didn’t pay much attention to what was happening nationally - not near as much as his local city council and state legislature contests.
His point was that we get so caught up in the national races that we neglect to think about the quality of the candidates running our business. He said the way the presidential candidates scurry around, and the way the media pursues them, makes him wonder if they all shouldn’t feel just a little sheepish about their conduct.
I know it’s only February but wouldn’t now be a great time to find out what we should be keeping our eyes on right here in our own backyard? Who’s with me?
Anybody?
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