Over the last several days we’ve been getting a lot of hits to this blog. It might be that folks are just curious about what we’re discussing after hearing some news reports about Mecklenblog. It might also be interesting to know that we’re having some face-to-face discussions about civic engagement in focus groups. We’ve met with a library book club, and with people appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to volunteer citizen advisory committees. We’re also going to talk with a neighborhood association and a church group. What we are hearing is pretty fascinating. We’re asking people why they get involved in their community, and even to tell us how they define “community.” The most interesting thing about this second questions is that for most people “community” means their neighborhood. We also have asked people to define what it means to be a good citizen. So far the responses have focused on things like being a good neighbor and being aware of what’s going on in the neighborhood. So here’s the question for today: What does it mean to be a good citizen?
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I’ve been pondering your question about what it means to be a good citizen. I got home last night, rifled through the mail stack, and found a voter guide for the upcoming primary which my husband had brought home. As I browsed through it, I realized I knew nothing at all about the judicial races! And then it hit me that the short answer to the original question is that a good citizen must first seek information.
A good citizen conserves water and other valuable resources. A bad government then goes up on the water rate to make budget.
Elsie and Mike: Thanks for these insights. I’m offering some additional thoughts on your comments together because they both seem to indicate (among other ideas) the need for good awareness and effective communication. In terms of elections and voting, it is particularly challenging to figure out who to vote for in judicial races, in part, because of differences in what judges and candidates can say in their campaigning. In many ways, this puts the onus on the voter to seek information, and it’s just not easy. Mike’s comments on the Charlotte City Council’s recent decision to support the water/sewer utility department’s request for fee increases suggests that everyone would have benefitted from more effective communication about the implications and consequences of water conservation earlier. Interestingly enough, although I am a general manager with Mecklenburg County government (which does not have a role in managing the utilities department or setting the fees), I am in the same position as other residents like Mike who were unaware that our conservation efforts would ultimately result in higher water fees. My point is that I agree with both comments that an important part of being a good citizen and being a good government involves taking responsibility for effective communication.
To paraphrase Woody Allen, 80% of being a good citizen is showing up to vote. Hard to make up that up elsewhere in one’s activities.
As we’ve spent time with community groups (book clubs, church groups, etc.) asking this question about what it takes to be a good citizen, very few if any say “voting.” When asked why they didn’t mention this, some say, “It’s just a given.” Still, we know lots of people don’t vote, so how much of a given is it really?
A gentle tongue-in-cheek reply to Mike: The law of unintended consequences states that all problems started out as solutions.
A good citizen does not litter the streets of Charlotte. A good citizen waves and gets to know their neighbors. A good citizen does not drive through a School Zone on Park Road or Pineville-Matthews Road at 60 mph. A good citizen allows other drivers to merge into traffic. A good citizen slows downs, takes notes and reports suspicious vehicles or activity that they see in their neighborhood. A good citizen votes in every local primary and national election.
A good citizen:
1. Recognizes that the collective power of government should be used sparingly and does not seek to have it used to further his own personal needs
2. Understands that government, left to its own devices, expands its own power at the expense of the citizen’s liberty and so keeps a watchful, and wary eye on those in government.
3. Recognizes that he has no right to the labor of his neighbors and so does not ask to take it from them in the form of taxes in order to pay for personal wants or needs.
4. Recognizes that tolerance of bad behavior and unproductive habits is not conducive to a functioning society and so exhibits high standards himself and boldly proclaims low standards where he sees them.
Looks like this is a stimulating topic. Click on the link to McGillicuddy’s Blog to the right for some additional thoughts on being a good citizen. Thanks.