The root of the word has a long, storied history:
Late Middle English: from Old French politique ‘political,’
via Latin from Greek politikos, from politēs ‘citizen,’ from polis ‘city.’
The word rests on two crucial concepts:
City
and
Citizen
The adjudication of power in any country many times rests on the proper dynamic which exists within our cities.
Many engaged partisans focus on the national elections or the statewide contests.
The most important fights take place in your backyard, and the movement for better policies begins in the discussions with friends and family, neighbors and acquaintances.
While local politics may not interest everyone, it should interest more people.
If conservative leaders would get residents to realize how important their activity is in their cities, and show them that they can be very effective, more people would step up and "fight city hall."
And win!
In Torrance, California, local residents concerned about another wide-spread ban on the use of private property stepped up and demanded a stop to these encroachments. nThe city council reversed its intended stance and voted down the Airbnb ban!T
In Huntington Beach, CA, local activists stopped Agenda One stack-and-pack developments, which by and large were designed to push people out of their cars and limit their individual liberty.
Even if the state and national politics has disappointed conservatives, they are wielding tremendous power and unprecedented influence in their cities.
Even in South Los Angeles, residents, many of whom are just learning about their rights as citizens, are standing up and fighting back against rogue city councils and school boards.
Frustrated citizens ... shouldn't be! |
People are frustrated about politics ... but they shouldn't be!
They define what politics is. If you are citizen and you live in the city, you have the political power!
You define what true politics is, and you do not have to wait for someone else to do something in your city!
Part of the scam, I fear, that lulls people into a resigned acceptance about the state of affairs in their city starts with what they are taught in school.
Political action, political activism is about more than reasoned dialogue.
It's a numbers game, it's an adjudication of power, and it's about time that we stopped trying to be nice, but make it very clear what the proper ends of government.
Check out the sage advice of our Founding Declaration:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That
to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation
on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
This demonstration of who is really in charge, and who can make the change -- that lies with us!
"It is the right of the people to alter or abolish ... and to institute."
Those are forceful words. We need to take ownership of our opportunities and responsibilities.
Stop waiting for elected officials to their job right in respect to your rights..
You and I have the power, and we need to start exercising it more!
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