I’ve had some recent conversations that suggest that I need to be clearer on these two points.
I invite everyone to attend their local municipal meetings to share their concerns, their ideas, and to remind officials that they are not only there to address issues interior to their municipalities, but to be alert to and mindful of the impact from external threats.
Why speak out at all and why should we speak to local officials?
On the first question, it’s our duty. Because we’re so used to having a stable federal system, I believe we’ve lost our awareness that the Constitution states, “We the People…do…establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This makes clear that the people are still in charge, still responsible, and we still have an obligation to oversee the functions established by the Constitution. And when those functions are endangered, the people are obligated to correct them. The system itself cannot, perhaps, correct itself, but the people still can (nonviolently, of course, and I hope).
It is our duty to monitor the functioning of our system of government and to correct things when necessary. Democracy is not a perfect, stable system. It requires constant tending, or it will inevitably fall apart. We CAN reconnect with our responsibilities, and we CAN right the ship of democracy.
Second, we should address our complaints to all levels of the power and policy structure, but we should be especially focused on speaking to the local municipalities because that is where the system is most vulnerable. If you are trying to change a power structure, it’s hard to do so where the power is strongest and most supported. That strong point is at top of the pyramid.
The weakest spots are farthest way from that point — at the bottom and edges — where supports are least and, in the case of mixed boards, where there is already a plurality of opinion present to build from.
This is a basic tactic in any conflict, and one that is useful now.
So…Please speak out because the establishment needs to hear your voice.
And your voice, and especially the voices of many, will be strongest when applied at the weakest places in the power structure.
Use the method, and I am confident that things will change.
Leave a Reply