I recently attended a Torrington City Council meeting, where the council discussed a controversial subject. The City of Torrington intended to apply for a grant to purchase an ethanol facility to aid a local business’ expansion efforts. Citizens of Torrington spoke both in favor and in opposition to the resolution. I witnessed a beautiful thing; democracy in action.
Democracy is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “government by the people; a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.”
We have many rights and privileges as Americans. One of the most incredible benefits is that we can stand up and speak out if we disagree. A government existing under the people’s power will always require the people to have the final say on matters of importance; this is essential for a democracy.
Too often, people tend to disregard the government and avoid getting involved. I have heard a multitude of excuses: “That doesn’t affect me.” “Who cares about that?” “I’m only one vote.” “I can’t change anything.”
What some people do not realize is that government decisions affect everyone. You may not care about it now, but you will when you get your next utility bill and suddenly, an item is far more expensive than it used to be. There have been elections where only a few votes made the difference between a proposition getting passed or not, or someone else getting elected.
One of the most important ideas that I want to convey is you may not believe you can change anything, but you absolutely can. There are many people from many backgrounds living in southeastern Wyoming. When items come before the council, they rely on input from the public, professionals and experts. You may not be an expert on these items, but you may have had experience with them. Your knowledge could provide the needed insight for the council to make a properly informed decision.
You may be wondering, how do I get involved?
Register to vote and then follow-through by showing up at the polls. According to the Goshen County Clerk’s Office, only 43% of people living in Goshen County are registered to vote. Nationally, around 47% of citizens are registered to vote.
Visit the Secretary of State’s website for election information. Wyoming residents can visit https://sos.wyo.gov/elections/ for information about upcoming elections, to view a roster of candidates, get election results and obtain multitudes of information about the election processes.
It is essential to make an informed decision when casting your ballot. If you do not know what you will see on the ballot, how can you make a worthy decision? Take the time to get to know your candidates and their platforms. The Telegram will publish an election guide leading up to Nov. 3.
There are many ways to get involved, but one of the easiest is to show up at your local city, town or county council/commissioners meeting. If anything, listen and see what you learn. City, town and county officials will usually give a briefing on what is occurring within their area of authority. The council may open the meeting to a public hearing. During this portion of the meeting, citizens can attest to their views on the matter at hand.
Call, write and speak with your representatives. Elected officials and candidates often have websites and social media accounts so that you can see what they are doing. Candidates sometimes submit declaration articles to your local press. Read your local newspaper to find these articles.
In my experience, I have found most officials care about the people who put them in office and do a commensurate job. However, some manipulate the system and work against the interest of the public. It is up to you, the American people, to hold government officials accountable.
