Sadly, I missed the Valley Grassroots January meeting.  Instead, Ken Lucier and I attended the January Central Committee meeting for the Clay County Republican Party. There were just 9 individuals in attendance including chair Dave Hallman and Moorhead City Council member Mark Hintermeyer. Much of the meeting centered on county, district and state party business, but a round table discussion proved quite interesting.

As some of you know, I’ve addressed the Moorhead council a few times since my “awakening” last fall.  However, I was not aware that what I was doing was almost unheard of.  In fact, council member Hintermeyer indicated the council speculates I’ll likely run for a seat this fall (don’t tell my wife) simply because I’ve addressed the council more than once.  Even more amazing, the Forum reporter that covers council meetings actually called the members after my second visit and mentioned the “citizen addressing the council”.  I also received the following email comment from another council member, “We all owe you & the like-minded citizens that have displayed enough concern about the city government to have actually made a difference, a HUGE THANK YOU!”

I’m not telling you this to pat myself on the back.  I mention it only to encourage you that concrete action gets noticed.  However, precious few citizens, except those who would gladly profit from your tax dollars, are crawling out of their bunkers to address our representatives.

Its easy for you and I to pontificate to an electronic gathering of like minded head nodders – its easy, safe and requires little sacrifice.  But should it be such a daunting task to actually stand before the misguided do-gooders in charge and say, “Enough!”?  We can hardly expect positive change if we aren’t even willing to sacrifice an hour of our week to *physicially* advocate for less hours of servitude to the city’s insatiable appetite.

But when we DO show up – in healthy numbers, preferably – an interesting, well-connected, group of individuals take notice.  And eventually, just maybe, something useful might happen.

1. Brian Says:
   February 7th, 2009 at 2:55 am

   Here, here!

2. Nathan S Says:
   April 14th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   Amen, brother. Amen.