4 ms·

An individual can most definitely influence the system, but it involves doing unappealing things like participating in open comment periods, political organizin

An individual can most definitely influence the system, but it involves doing unappealing things like participating in open comment periods, political organizing, labor organizing, attending meetings, making phone calls, interacting with bureaucracies, pouring your life into standards bodies, running for local office, and persevering in the face of indifference and tedium. It's a high bar to clear (I certainly haven't cleared it), but to pretend it's impossible is the definition of cynisicm.

vertex-four 9y ago
And maybe, just maybe, if you do all those things, you'll be able to get one law changed in five years.
- tptacek 9y ago
  There are 242,000,000 adults in the US. Getting one law changed every 5 years sounds like an absurd amount of leverage to gain from basic civic engagement.
Consultant32452 9y ago
http://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congress-doesnt-care-what-you-think http://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congre... Step 1: Read article Step 2: Resume cynicism
- specialist 9y ago
  You understand that wherever you live has city, county councils. Schools boards and conservation and fire districts. Your state has a legislature. Aside: I hate South Park. The smug self righteous cynicism it engenders is just another cult, but for apathy.
  - Consultant32452 9y ago
    Sure, let's talk about my city. The mayor is on the board of the company that manages our toll roads, so we'll never get good public transportation. At a zoning board meeting the head chair literally said out loud, in response to complaints, that she was impervious against any campaign against her because alphabetically she showed up first on the ballot. Oh yeah, our governor's wife is on the board of some medical group... I forget the details but they bilked millions out of our senior citizens... and got re-elected. Aside response: I don't watch South Park, so I don't know what you're even referring to.
- mcguire 9y ago
  Pssst! Most of the US readers of this forum are likely above the 90th percentile of income.

vertex-four 9y ago

And maybe, just maybe, if you do all those things, you'll be able to get one law changed in five years.

tptacek 9y ago
There are 242,000,000 adults in the US. Getting one law changed every 5 years sounds like an absurd amount of leverage to gain from basic civic engagement.

Consultant32452 9y ago

http://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congress-doesnt-care-what-you-think http://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congre... Step 1: Read article Step 2: Resume cynicism

specialist 9y ago
You understand that wherever you live has city, county councils. Schools boards and conservation and fire districts. Your state has a legislature. Aside: I hate South Park. The smug self righteous cynicism it engenders is just another cult, but for apathy.
- Consultant32452 9y ago
  Sure, let's talk about my city. The mayor is on the board of the company that manages our toll roads, so we'll never get good public transportation. At a zoning board meeting the head chair literally said out loud, in response to complaints, that she was impervious against any campaign against her because alphabetically she showed up first on the ballot. Oh yeah, our governor's wife is on the board of some medical group... I forget the details but they bilked millions out of our senior citizens... and got re-elected. Aside response: I don't watch South Park, so I don't know what you're even referring to.
mcguire 9y ago
Pssst! Most of the US readers of this forum are likely above the 90th percentile of income.