Day 10: Identify your local officials

In order to pay attention and have an impact on your local government, you need to know who the people are who are serving you. What do they look like? Can you recognize their name in print? Would you know them if you saw them in person?

Once you know who they are it's easier to follow them and their actions and make mental notes of whether or not they represent you and what you want your experience in this life to be at a local level. One of the easiest ways to get this information is by using a Facebook feature called Town Hall.

Click on the feature and then input your address. It will then show you a list of government officials and you can decide whether or not to follow them. 

This is a quick and easy way to get information about your local officials. They will post to let you know bills they are voting on, events they have attended and general philosophies about policies impacting the current administration and their constituents. What's great is that you can comment on their posts and usually someone in their constituent service office will get back to you. 

If you don't have Facebook you can google "local elected officials in {zip code}" and you will get a list like this:

Either way, it's important you have this information. The squeaky wheel gets the oil but if you don't drive the car you can't complain when it stops working. Government works when you use it. 

Take a minute to read through the websites of some of your local officials. Your local township or county website will give you a list of people who serve your district specifically. These are the people closest to you and your experience. Not the governor, not your congressman, but your LOCALLY elected officials. Try reaching out to them first, and then if you don't get an answer, take it a step further up in the hierarchy.