Many people focus on the federal government. We receive news updates on the president's executive orders and stream CNN or Fox at important times like election season. Yet, when it comes to local offices and decision-makers at the state or city level, people can often disregard it. It is important to pay attention to local government and the politicians close to home, as well as the federal level.
Local government is important for many reasons, especially in small towns like Athens. The community is tight-knit and small decisions leave big impacts, but there are very easy ways to know what is happening. The Athens City Council meetings occur on the first and third Mondays of each month. The council discusses major decisions about the community, including rezoning and traffic signals. There is access to watch and rewatch the meetings on the Council’s website, and people are also able to attend in person. Participating in a meeting is an option as; it has a public hearing portion and space for the community to speak up. Seeing and participating in decisions helps in understanding how people are affected by the government.
If someone is planning to attend a meeting or reflect on what was spoken about, research what the council will be discussing before a meeting. The agendas can usually be found on the council’s website, and understanding what one will be learning is important.
It is always helpful to know about the local government. Use the local government as a microscope into the bigger picture of decisions made at a higher level. Ask questions and find out what things actually mean.
Student government can be grouped into this, too. Whether it is high school or college level, knowing an institution's government is beneficial. This could mean running for student government to make sure one's voice is heard from the start. Discuss with people who know more to gain more insight. School government is a huge starting point and it impacts many people.
People don’t just have to stay updated through videos and attendance. Knowing how to accurately read the news is another way to stay informed. Keep updated with unbiased stories, when to see if something is not honest or real and do not fall into the traps of social media baiting. People want others to read what they write, so in many cases, there can be words written simply for the want of attention. Having the skills to know what is real or fake can allow people to comprehend government decisions more easily.
Overall, playing a role in politics as a community member is something everyone should take advantage of. Being part of the decisions made is extremely important. Whether it means going to council meetings and sharing an opinion or voting in an election, that is another voice heard. Understand what decisions are made because they impact everyone. Government decisions are not just for politicians or political science majors.
Kyra Dapore is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
