To help me unpack the virtues of local politics and government and discuss the practical ways average citizens can get involved, I’m joined on the podcast by my friend and colleague Eric Alegria.
Besides being a doctoral student, working professional, and family man, Eric also serves as the mayor of his city. In this conversation, we discuss what got him involved in local government, the challenges of civic leadership in the COVID era, the avenues open to citizen involvement in local government, and the practical step one can take to get involved. This is fun, practical, and encouraging conversation about what’s possible in a democratic society where citizens care about their neighbors and community.
Main topic: Local politics
You’ve probably heard the saying “all politics is local,” but what does that actually say about local politics? In the negative sense, it may refer to some cynical calculus about what issues ought to be discussed to win an election.
However, in the positive sense, the saying can help us ground our understanding of politics and government in the more immediate concerns of our local communities, which can often have an uncanny way of building consensus, neighborliness, and all the positive attributes that can overcome the divisive politics of our time.
Conversation starters
What do you and your neighbor(s) agree on as being an immediate need in your municipality? What is your city government doing about it? Is there a way you can make a contribution to being part of the solution? What’s holding you back from participating?
The written word
Articles from TimTalksPolitics.com
- How We Talk About Politics (And Why We Should Stop It)
- Rediscovering Citizenship
- Critiquing Digital Citizenship
The last word
….local assemblies of citizens constitute the strength of free nations. Town-meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it. A nation may establish a system of free government, but without the spirit of municipal institutions it cannot have the spirit of liberty.
Alexis de Tocqueville
P.S. Don’t forget, you can subscribe to my newsletter, the Weekly Brief on Substack (30% for podcast listeners)!