PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

July 28, 2021

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE (IX)

Get More Political

My introduction to politics was when I was in high school.  My youth group attended a coffee for a candidate running for local office.  I especially remember the occasion since I won one of the door prizes.  The pastor of the church felt that it was important for Christians to take their civic responsibilities seriously.

Even though there is no direct place in scriptures when one can find a mandate to be a good citizen there are many passages which might be sited to support such a claim.  One of the members of a church I served made a rather creative connection between being a Christian and a responsible American citizen.  It was his claim, I think somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that when he paid his taxes they went to support programs that were suggested by scripture.  Therefore, when he paid his taxes he was paying his tithe to God!  In spite of this argument, he still supported his church quite liberally.

Former speaker of the United States House of Representatives Tip O’Neill is closely associated with the observation “All politics is local.”   The level of politics that most affects our daily activities is the township, the city, the county, or the state level.  They are in charge of the roads on which we travel, see that public services are provided and maintained, oversee the use of land, maintain parks and recreational areas, provide for police protection, establish regulations by which retailers operate, and many other things.

In her book This Is Where You Belong Melody Warnick tells about attending the 2015 Citizens Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. Over the nine week institute the attendee got to meet city employees, learn about their responsibilities and got a better understanding of how government actually works.  Warnick reasoned if someone faithfully attended such an institute it would be an indication that they cared about their city.

Melody came to two realizations listening to town manager Marc Veniel talk about how the city of Blacksburg government operates.  “First, good government does not just happen.  They’re planned into existence, against all odds and opposition.  Second, making decisions that keep all kinds of residents satisfied is incredibly difficult.” (This Is Where You Belong, p. 182)

My experience of local, state and national government over more than sixty years would confirm Melody’s observations.  I have been impressed by the number of restrictions, limitations, constraints, laws, rules, and regulations under which government officials and workers operate.  The more I have learned about how government functions, the more I have appreciated how difficult it can be and how even apparently simple solutions are fraught with land mines.

Warnick’s second suggestion for how to get more political is “figure out when your next election is and vote, even if means you have to spend thirty minutes cramming on the issues.” (This Is Where You Belong, p. 198)  The primary way for a person to get more involved in the political process is by voting.  It is an opportunity for every citizen to make his or her wishes known.  There is an old adage that if you do not vote you should not complain about who gets elected.

I never have been one to vote simply on the basis of party affiliation.  This is especially true for the local level.  It is important when voting that one know something about the candidates and the current issues and hot topics.  Local newspapers are a wonderful source of information.  Most will run sketches of those running.  I take into consideration how hard a candidate works to be elected.  Most of the local persons for whom I have voted have stopped by  my house to say hello and leave literature that outlined what they thought was important.  Unless there is a serious reason not to, I will vote for persons I know and consider competent.

Many years ago I was enlisted to be a part of a day long Republican caravan in Jasper County Indiana.  I rode with a member of one of the churches I served.  If she would see someone out in the yard, she would stop, and send me forth to give them literature.  As the day progressed I noticed that there were several candidates who never got out of their car.  When I asked about them, I was told that they had just enough political influence that they could not be dumped from the ticket.  As a result when it came time for me to vote, I voted for their Democratic opponents.  I was not about to vote for anyone who was not even willing to get out of a car and pass out some literature.

When I was the pastor of the United Methodist Covenant Parish in Jasper County Indiana I served first as judge and then inspector at my local voting place which was located in the garage of house not far from where I lived.  One of my responsibilities as inspector was to go outside and announce at 6:00 A.M. the poll was open.  At the end of the day I would announce at 6:00 P.M. the poll was closed.  My audience consisted of a few voters and some cows who were totally disinterested.  Fortunately, almost all those working the poll place were old hands.  I just stayed out of their way and did what they told me.

Here in Plymouth I served several years as a sheriff at my local polling place.  My big responsibility was to give everyone who voted an “I Voted” sticker.  It was interesting to learn what people did with their stickers.  One aspect of working the polls that I found rewarding were people voting for the first time.  Often it was a young person who had come with parents for this big step in their lives.  It was also rewarding to meet persons who had voted regularly for many, many years.  Working the polls was a way to greet my neighbors as they came to discharge their civic responsibility.

A reason that Melody joined the 1025 Citizens Institute was that she reasoned if you want to love where you live, you will act like someone who loves where they live.  People who love where they live are generally involved politically by voting, keeping up with current issues, participating in the political process or encouraging local government officials and workers.