Get active in city politics: decide who serves you

Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that only 158 families and companies they control contributed $176 million during the first phase of the present presidential campaign. This huge sum represents half of all campaign contributions to date.

Financial influence creates a government bought by the few to protect the economic interests of the few. The voice of the average voter often is drowned out in our present political process.

As we come up to Tuesday's municipal election in Cedar Rapids, political power in our own community also is much better understood if we 'follow the money.” I encourage every citizen to review state of Iowa electoral data to learn the source of campaign contributions for every council candidate.

Clear lines of logic can be drawn from who pays for political influence and the decisions made by those who are elected to office. Campaign contributions are an investment in political and economic power. Is it any accident that it seems every single TIF and other tax and economic advantages provided for the largest developers in town have been approved by our present mayor and council? If you want a transparent understanding of politics, then follow the money.

I've spent nearly two decades involved in the Oakhill Neighborhood Association. I served as the elected president for three terms and remain active in the association. In Oakhill and other core neighborhoods, we have a pathetically poor percentage of voter turnout. As our association works to encourage voter registration and voting, we face a massive wall of apathy. At street level, the majority of the citizens in this town voice a crisis of confidence in our current leadership. There is a major trust issue.

A majority of citizens in our community do not even vote in local elections. Apathy has a high price and blocks real change.

You have no basis to criticize local leaders if you do not get out of your easy chair, away from the TV and work hard for real change. A political process that actually represents the common good is not a spectator sport. Get busy. Get active.

When the majority of citizens abdicate their responsibility to perform as active and well-informed voters, they create a vacuum that is filled by a small oligarchy that controls the political process. The only way the controlling influence of money in local, state and federal elections can be countered is through the cumulative power gained by a majority of common citizens who make the effort to get informed and then claim their power at the election booth.

People power can overcome financial influence when enough people vote.

Go to the county auditor's office today to register, and vote on Tuesday for a city council candidate who you determine will represent your interests. If those we elect do not act in our real common interest, let's call them to account.

It is only possible to have government 'by and for the people” if the people wake up and get into action.

' Michael Richards is an entrepreneur and community activist who has lived in the Corridor for 20 years. Comments: soyawax@aol.com