11/02/2016

Election Season: One of the Local Living's Best Tools

I always laugh when someone is surprised by my insinuation that the internet is one of the local movement's best tools.

No, seriously.

The internet is a great resource to figure out the ins and outs of local issues, local producers and businesses, and even local people. And never is this quite so important as it seems to be right before an election.

Yeah. I'm going there. The election.

It doesn't matter whether you love or hate the two most well-known candidates in America. There are hundreds of other candidates that may be just as important to know about.

I'm talking local politics. Critical, crucial, cardinal, local politics. The problem is, few people seem to know who's who. Or what the issues are what. After all, I'll be the first to admit that I watch national news five thousand times more often than local news. And not just because local newscasts -whether in tiny Norcross, Maine, or bustling New York, New York- are the cheesiest things ever recorded. National news "feels" more important talking about its big issues, and therefore people like myself are easily swayed into thinking it matters more. Not true at all.

I have recently returned from living in a country
in which voting was not a reality, I appreciate
my privilege to be able to VOTE today
more than ever!! Thanks, Susan and co! 
Critical, crucial, cardinal, local politics are where we have the most power. -And feel the effects of our politicians so incredibly directly, whether its on the roads they've approved, the schools they've carried out initiatives for, or hospitals they've funded. Some of them may be all the way over there in Washington, but they still are representing things that are important to little ol' us in our neighborhoods, our states, and our regions. You can imagine, then how alarming it is to me that so many of my local friends and readers have expressed a lack of knowledge about how to know who to vote for in upcoming local elections. Or how to even find out who's on the ballot.

But don't be embarrassed. And don't worry. You're not alone. It's not too late.

You don't need a law degree to make an educated vote. The internet has some answers for you. Or at least, is again, a great resource to help you figure out the ins and outs of local issues, local producers and businesses, and local candidates stances. Find reputable sources and dig in!

What is the second most powerful thing a person who wants to support local can do? A thousand times over, the first thing has to do with your dollars: how you spend your money sends the loudest message about what you support near and far. But the second thing is your homework for today:

Do your research. And VOTE!

Here's some fantastic help: