There are millions of issues that the conscientious citizen can sink his or her teeth into… It can become almost overwhelming to keep track of all the concerns you are passionate about, or problems that you find particularly vexing in this world. The key is to sort through the morass and find some concrete areas that you can get into and make a difference with. Gary Snyder once said that we must, “Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”

The best way to do this is to start on the most local of levels. It’s easy to dump all of our problems on Dubya or Congress, but he’s not the one responsible for that new development plowing under the last pristine patch of land left in your town. Big-box stores, the loss of open space, sprawl, traffic congestion & pollution: these are all problems that ultimately can be most effectively addressed on the local level. Every action, from the opening of a new Wal-Mart to the construction of new condos, has to go through an approval process on the local level.

Civics, 101

The specific configuration of local governments can vary. Many people in America live in municipalities of some sort. Townships, Cities, Villages, and Boroughs are just a few examples of the various arrangements of government at this most local level. Other people live in unincorporated areas, which are typically administered by the county government. There is a very good wikipedia article on different structures of local government.

Getting involved starts by figuring out who is making the decisions that affect you. Typically, on the municipal level, there will be something like a Town Council; and on the county level, there will be something like a Board of Supervisors. Names and specific roles may differ, but in general they are directly elected bodies who make all manner of decisions related to zoning, land use, public programs, and transit, amongst other things.

Attend Meetings

Attending meetings is a great way to make your voice known. Almost every item that comes before a governing body has the opportunity for public comment. Don’t like that new 1000 home subdivision going in down the road? Make a comment against it. Not comfortable with a new toxic-waste processing facility opening up in your watershed? Let the government know that you don’t approve. Speaking during public comment periods on local issues can let local leaders know that people are passionate about something—it can very well influence their vote.

Attending meetings is also a great way to find out what’s coming down the pipe. A new Wal-Mart Supercenter doesn’t just pop up before a Town Council once. There is a whole planning process and a variety of approvals it must go through before it can reach the final vote stage. Frequenting local government meetings can clue you in early to new projects as they are first being proposed, which can allow sufficient time to mobilize local support against them.

Other Means

Writing letters is just as effective; while it requires a little more effort up front, it does free you from having to tie your schedule to that of the government. Personalized letters to elected officials with stories, anecdotes, or examples are the best way to sway opinions in your favor. Be sure to be literate, as well as to remind the official that you are a voter who holds their fate in your hands on election day.

Finally, plain old verbal communication with local officials can be the easiest and most effective way to communicate your views. Get on the phone; visit their office; say hello to them before a meeting… Showing that your personally care enough about an issue to contact them face-to-face can mean more than a thousand letters.

Get Involved!

It’s fairly easy to get plugged into government at the local level. A simple Google search for your town name and state and the word “government” should pull up any websites that your municipality may maintain. The same search for your county should direct you to your county government. Most websites will then have meeting dates and times, as well as names and addresses of elected officials for you to be in touch with.

The key in getting involved with local government is not to be overwhelmed by all the issues out there… Find one or two that you are particularly passionate about (in my case, it’s been new housing developments and ORV use) and do as much as you can on those issues.

Becoming involved in local government decisions can help you to feel empowered—like you can really make a difference in your world and your voice is heard. This, in turn, can help to motivate you to continue the good fight for larger scale causes… “All politics is local” as Tip O’Neill said, and getting involved on the local level is the foundation of citizen-activism.