Keep On Blogging Chesterfield
Again, I admit I’m a rather naive citizen, but it is my understanding that democracy should be from the bottom up and not from the top down. In a county (Chesterfield County) of about 300,000, I’d guess that 100 or less of the well connected, wealthy, powerful, control the county’s policy decisions and stand to benefit most from those decisions.
And I’m not condemning those 100 – most I’d imagine are men (and some women) of good will who work hard, are not especially mean spirited, and have a certain concern for the health of the county and the interests of its population. I am condemning the remaining 300,000 who find so little time in their 168-hour week or 365-day year to take seriously their responsibility of citizenship. Citizenship is more than going to work each day and shopping all evening. Citizenship is having some level of responsibility to stay informed, to participate, to volunteer, to speak up.
The recent Democratic primary is an example of this disinterest and apathy, in that only 3.5% of the eligible voters turned out. This is more than an embarrassment for our state – it is a state of affairs that envelops our community. And it is manifest in the quality of life that leads to our congested roads, students who either drop out or are graduated poorly equipped to contribute to the community, continuing social segregation, and uncontrolled commercial expansion.
It was reassuring to see the surprising number and quality of the candidates who vied for the unfilled Board of Supervisors position, and the wise choice the Board made to fill that position. And it is encouraging seeing the online community growing in size and quality – individual voices, with arguments, points of view, debate, and the creation of communities of interest.
I applaud the energy and commitment of these bloggers and hope this relatively new medium of online participation grows and helps fill this void of apathy and nonparticipation and turns back the good old boy network that has run Chesterfield County for so long – such that a better quality of life and a better sense of participation and empowerment ripples through the county.
And I’m not condemning those 100 – most I’d imagine are men (and some women) of good will who work hard, are not especially mean spirited, and have a certain concern for the health of the county and the interests of its population. I am condemning the remaining 300,000 who find so little time in their 168-hour week or 365-day year to take seriously their responsibility of citizenship. Citizenship is more than going to work each day and shopping all evening. Citizenship is having some level of responsibility to stay informed, to participate, to volunteer, to speak up.
The recent Democratic primary is an example of this disinterest and apathy, in that only 3.5% of the eligible voters turned out. This is more than an embarrassment for our state – it is a state of affairs that envelops our community. And it is manifest in the quality of life that leads to our congested roads, students who either drop out or are graduated poorly equipped to contribute to the community, continuing social segregation, and uncontrolled commercial expansion.
It was reassuring to see the surprising number and quality of the candidates who vied for the unfilled Board of Supervisors position, and the wise choice the Board made to fill that position. And it is encouraging seeing the online community growing in size and quality – individual voices, with arguments, points of view, debate, and the creation of communities of interest.
I applaud the energy and commitment of these bloggers and hope this relatively new medium of online participation grows and helps fill this void of apathy and nonparticipation and turns back the good old boy network that has run Chesterfield County for so long – such that a better quality of life and a better sense of participation and empowerment ripples through the county.
Comments
KPMG has also paid hundreds of millions of dollars in fines for substandard audits.
In the current issue of the Observer, the KPMG head auditor said they will not audit anything under 400,000. Rennie and Dickie should be thrilled over that.
KPMG has also paid hundreds of millions of dollars in fines for substandard audits.
In the current issue of the Observer, the KPMG head auditor said they will not audit anything under 400,000. Rennie and Dickie should be thrilled over that.
KPMG has also paid hundreds of millions of dollars in fines for substandard audits.
In the current issue of the Observer, the KPMG head auditor said they will not audit anything under 400,000. Rennie and Dickie should be thrilled over that.