Poll: Politics at local level pointless
By Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times
Disdain and disgust have been common sentiments when it comes to Americans’ views of the national political environment. But local government was supposed to be the safe haven, where things got done in a more neighborly way, with a lot less frustration than, say, dealing with the groaning bureaucracies of the IRS or Veterans Affairs.
It hasn’t worked out that way, exactly.
In a somewhat surprising twist, a new USC Dornsife/California Community Foundation/Los Angeles Times poll on community involvement suggests tension between California voters and their local governments.
A quarter or more of California voters say their elected officials are not responsive to their needs, a figure larger than might have been expected years ago. Voters cast a broad brush of negativity about the usefulness of volunteering for or giving money to political candidates and politicians.
No kidding! We have some very questionable people trying to run this city that has NO business doing so.
We need fresh compentent professionals to take over and NOW!
Local2 I belive there will be two council seats, Hal Cole’s and Joanne Conner’s, up for grabs next year. Who do you suggest we should elect? “Competent professionals” sounds a bit vague.
These two council members Cole and Conner did not listen to the voters on paid parking or vacation rentals. Its all about fees and fines. We need young new council members with the voters in mind and who will not drink the cool-aid of the good old boys.
Local politics can be very good. We’ve had many major improvements to our town through local politicians working with other government agencies to make our area better, improving our economy and environnment
for locals and visitors alike.
Support local government and we will get things done in this town! Become involved in your community! OLS
SLT, with only around 25000 residents and about no one voting really needs an overhaul.
I think the Hispanics could elect anyone they wanted if they would vote.
And no I do not believe that the majority of them are illegally here.
Come on you Spanish speakers, get on it!!!
yeah, pointless. why vote? why care? why question? everything will be fine. just sit in traffic. work(if you can find it). sit in traffic some more. buy stuff. eat. sleep. watch tv. watch more tv. sit in traffic some more. after a while, die. whatever.
life(and all politics) are only pointless if you abandon the search for meaning and stop trying to make the world a better place for those who will be here after we’re gone.
haven’t missed an election(local, state or national) since I turned 18.