If you are going to involve yourself in politics you might consider supporting a particular issue or set of issues instead of a candidate. Often, you will find it just as productive to work on a single issue as you would to support a particular candidate. In addition, you may find that the work you do hits closer to home, benefiting not only yourself but friends and neighbors as well as your entire community.
Before you even begin thinking of an issue you would like to work on look around your community for something that needs changing. It could be as simple as a pot hole that your car hits going to work every day, a road sign that seems unclear, or even an area that you think needs a road sign. After you see something that needs changing you can create a plan to get something done about the problem.
If you noticed this problem it is likely others have noticed it too. Maybe you have co-workers who must pass through the same street and they would like to see the same problem fixed. Maybe others in the neighborhood have to travel the same street as well. You can even look for community groups and forums online and once you have others who want to work on the same project you can build a coalition that can collaborate to come up with ideas on how to fix the problem. Petitioning, going to town hall meetings to make officials aware, and having letter or phone drives are a few of the ways your group can influence having things done.
After you have rallied your group, make sure you channel your energy at the proper authority. Several excellent ways to find that authority are to go to your local library and get assistance from a librarian, search the internet for your city’s or county’s website while using keywords related to the issue you are working on, or call city hall and ask.
After you know who you need to talk to, gear everybody up to begin writing letters. Get representatives who have the time to show up at town hall meetings, if necessary. Make phone calls. Often it is just making the official aware of the problem, letting them know you’re aware of it, and finally having them realize you’re aware they are aware of it. The time it takes to get things done may depend on the size of the problem, the city, and the time the official has but these circumstances should not stop you from resolving an issue to benefit your community.
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Jesus tells us in Luke 9: 25-26 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself (his soul), or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his father's, and of the holy angels.
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