by Jerry Agar

Much of our political conversation today focuses around health care at the national level, Iraq and Afghanistan and perhaps a bit about what is going on at the state level.  Meanwhile our city council is debating a change in garbage pick-up and the school board has a few fascinating ideas we may or may not like - if we knew about them.

But it is at the state and local levels that a lot of what impacts us the most - and this includes the economy - is happening a lot closer to home than the headlines would indicate.  Here are 10 reasons I think we should take a little time to get to know what is happening in our own home town and state.

10.  Proximity to them.  Although it takes a day to travel to Washington, D.C., (a lot quicker than Lincoln's trip from Illinois, but it is still time consuming,) your local government is right where you live. You see your mayor at the grocery store; you went to school with village board members.

9.  Proximity to you.  Conversely, your local official knows your community and its wants, needs and desires.  They live in it and they love it.  He or she may already know you, and if not, could get to know you very quickly if you take the time to get involved.

8.  Size matters.  The smaller the community, the more likely that the person in office is doing the job out of a sense of duty and local pride.  There is not a lot of money in being mayor of a smaller town.  Because he takes pride in the town, he's more likely to want to do the right thing by his constituents.

7.  Your vote counts.  In a national election many people say, “My vote won’t matter.”  It isn’t true, but it is understandable, with millions voting.  But in a local election, fewer people participate and at a much smaller percentage than in the huge Presidential election.  Your vote really matters.

6.  You count.  You can actually promote good ideas (and stop bad ones) by organizing locally.  Never underestimate the power of twenty or thirty dedicated, informed, passionate (but polite) people showing up at a meeting.  You can fight city hall.

5.  You have impact.  You can actually get a chance to speak at a school board or city hall meeting.  If you do, you will personally represent a high percentage of the number of people those elected officials have heard from.  Good luck getting a chance to present to Congress.  The Illinois Policy Institute has a group called the Liberty Leaders.  You could be one, and have the advantage of working with and learning from others to maximize your impact.  Email Brian Costin to find out more: bcostin@illinoispolicy.org.

4.  Get directly involved.  You can get elected.  It takes millions of dollars, a campaign organization and a lot of luck to become a member of Congress.  Oftentimes, there is very little competition for the school board and the local council.

3.  Home and family.  Local authorities decide your property tax rate and have the most control over your schools.  They control water, garbage, police and fire departments.  What is more important than home and family?  Local government hits you where you live.

2.  State policy is essential.  State government has the best – or worst – chance of getting us out of a recession.  Is the state friendly to business?  Is it friendly in a way that makes economic sense, or does it favor powerful business interests over citizens? Does it favor powerful unions over business and citizens?  Your state representative and senator have offices near you.

1.  Power to the people.  Local government is the strength of the nation.  The Founders knew that, which is why they wrote Article 1, Section 8 and the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, limiting the power of the federal government, leaving the bulk of the responsibility and power at the state level.  We are slipping away from that concept, but if we pressure our local officials, perhaps they will do their job and not blame everything on Washington.