Like everyone else with an ounce of integrity and patriotism, I have been shocked, angered, dismayed, frightened, and a dozen other emotions I'll not admit here, by the actions and antics of the Republican party, as they abandoned civilized political practices for their own brand of playground bullying tactics. I watched Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and even my own capitol of Columbus, Ohio as vulgar displays of strong arm tactics were brought to bear with NO regard for the consequences to the people or to our proud political system.
I wrote e-mail after e-mail to republicans and democrats alike condemning and encouraging as much as I could. I had long talks with my friends and family about where these heinous actions might lead us and our children. I followed trustworthy news publications and web sites diligently, so that I could be well informed.
The whole time, I wondered how it had gotten SO bad in all these other places. And I felt glad that at least it wasn't happening at home. I bet you can guess what's coming next.
The reason I began looking into the happenings of the city council and the mayor's office in my own home town was because I had thought of perhaps throwing my hat into the political ring. I mean, what right did I have to criticize anything if I wasn't willing to offer solid alternatives and devote my time and effort to change things. That would make me a hypocrite, EXACTLY the million-headed beast I was so fervently fighting. So I looked...
AND IT'S HAPPENING IN MY OWN BACK YARD !!!!!
The same ramrod, loud mouthed, disregard for the will of the people was on display for all to see by my own city council. I spent two days reading the minutes from the last two years worth of council meetings, and with only a couple of exceptions, one of which left the council in disgust and anger, they all proved themselves to be big money whores who sided against the desires of the very people who put them in office and trusted them to do what was right.
So I say to you, before it's too late, LOOK TO YOUR OWN!!
By law, the minutes from council meetings in your own municipalities are available online and at your local courthouse. And believe me, you want to see them. My small, wonderfully diverse, university centered city shocked me with its liberal use of eminent domain and right-of-way legislation, and both terrified and angered me with their almost 100% track record of siding with business and against the fine, upstanding, and educated people they are SUPPOSED to be serving.
It is LONG passed the time for all of us to make our voices heard. You can't open a respectable publication or turn to a news program without seeing how millions of our fellow Americans are getting involved, and we should, too. But in addition to all the e-mails I hope you have been writing, all the educational conversations you should be having with your children, and even the protesting you might be doing if you are able to get to some of these hot spots of republican debauchery, I say get to your city council meetings, see that they are doing the job they were hired for, make your own voice heard, and by all means, hold them accountable.
Someday, some of them might grow up to be mean nasty republicans. Let's nip them in the bud while they're young.