The Engaged Citizen

In 2008 the bottom fell out of the economy in the United States. Banks needed to be bailed out; houses were lost to foreclosure and personal finances tightened like a noose after years of unequaled prosperity.

One area that “prospered” the most was the public sector or those who make a living on citizens' tax dollars. Now before the public workers all call for my head, I am fully cognizant that government needs workers and many public employees provide valuable services to the community and are much needed by society. Public safety and education are included in this.

The problem is the bureaucracy created by elected officials over years of torpor by the American voting public. People who were doing well financially, driving nice cars and living in beautiful homes didn’t seem to care what elected officials were doing with those hard-earned tax dollars that were being collected. The specter of 2008 brought much of this political lassitude into specific relief as people are now facing unemployment or under-employment and the fancy car and lavish house were now in jeopardy. The banks were taken care of by well-funded politicians, politicians blamed the greedy banks and all the while Middle America was left holding the bag.

How, you may ask, did all of this happen and why didn’t anyone call for a stop to the madnesss?

Because we as citizens fell into a prosperous malaise believing that government was doing as well as we were. So what if they raised taxes—we have plenty of extra money and besides, they [the government] really must need it to do whatever it is that they do. We as citizens gave government too much leeway and now we face a credit downgrade of municipalities, counties, states and even the federal government; meaning that government has spent way beyond its means and has caused a tremendous fiscal morass that the citizens will be left to pay for.

As we move forward it is even more important that we as citizens take control back of government and remind those elected that they are servant and we are their master. Here in beautiful Gloucester Township, people have begun attending Council meetings and speaking out, asking questions of those elected and entrusted with running our town. You can see by the responses to Patch articles that people are beginning to stir from their cocoon and realize that good government is a hands-on process and needs attention every day. While some are still at ease with abrogating their rights to elected and appointed bureaucrats, many have shown a fire in their belly and are researching, questioning and saying STOP to business as usual.

At a recent GT council meeting several members of the community rose and spoke about how poorly they perceive the local government is handling important issues. They pointed to the mayor’s cabinet being less than forthcoming with information to the public; they criticized the use of red-light cameras and the waste of precious and dwindling tax dollars. These people are awakening from their political slumber and availing themselves of those rights hard fought for by American patriots for two centuries. They are becoming engaged citizens and holding government accountable for its actions and taking a proactive stance.

In the face of a bloated and indignant government, the engaged citizen wages a battle that most would call folly. One person who commented on a recent Patch article chastised another poster for believing that the citizens have a voice in government and that local government had become so corrupt and out of touch that it was a waste of time. I implore you to get involved, speak out and make a difference in how government works. Each and every one of us works hard for the money that we make and we need to let government know that pork barrel buffet that they have enjoyed has come to an end. Be the engaged citizen.