"Bob Noel" wrote
running for office isn't the only solution.

and it's not always the best solution. Just because you get
elected to a council, that includes 5-6 others by the way,
doesn't mean you'd get any further in accomplishing
anything. Now of course if you were elected to the position
of DICTATOR, yeah, you could actually make some
changes I guess. But 1 out of 7, occasionally speaking up
for a cause important to you? Just watch the other 6 ignore
you as they did when you were just a joe schmoe during
public invited to be heard. I've seen it in our council, or
even on CSPAN at the national level - some guy up there
making a case for something important to his constituents,
and maybe one other person in chambers half awake
listening, and no action or discussion taken on it at all.

My problem with running for our version of the airport
commission, or council - which I've been asked to run for
both, no way - is Id have to tone down what's worked
in the past. I don't have the city holding a lease over my
head, I don't have voters to answer to, I don't have other
commission members telling me not to rock the boat, it's
a pretty good feeling answering to no one and not letting
people influence or water down my opinions. You cant
say that doesn't happen to politicians at all levels. They
can say they aren't influenced by special interests or
whatever, but I'm not buying any of that. It's part of the
game. I'm not playing that game. If I'm going to be
elected or selected and put into a position where I'm
useless, I won't consider the nomination.

I don't consider asking for help whining. What Jay is
dealing with alot of us are dealing with, unfortunately,
more and more. If we lay back and let things go,
we all pay for it in the future. I see nothing wrong in
him asking what's worked or not worked in similar
situations. Getting your name on the list of council
members, while it may make you feel popular for
a little while, doesn't amount to jack squat.

Chris