The Facebook chatter page was all abuzz about some improvement the town’s council had approved and the impact it might have on the community’s property tax rate. One commenter was especially furious that taxpayers were being asked to pony up for yet another project, and demanded, “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for that. The government should pay for it.”
It’s not the first time I’ve heard or seen a comment like that, and it reinforces what I believe to be the most pressing problem with our government. It’s not the deficit, partisan battles, or any one of the dozens of issues that rile Hendricks County residents.
It’s ignorance about what government really is and how it works at all levels, not just in Congress and the White House.
There’s an old word I wish more people knew. It’s “commonwealth,” and to me, it’s the best way to wrap your mind around what government really is. The English first began to use the word in the 1400s to describe communities. Back then, “wealth” didn’t mean money … it described what we now call “well-being.” Later, it evolved into a synonym for government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Even today, Kentucky and three other states refer to everything within their borders as commonwealths.
Think of commonwealth as everything in and about the place you call home, whether it’s a community or another part of the county. It encompasses the natural resources of the land itself and all the elements allowing residents to live there confidently, safely, and comfortably. It’s all the things we own collectively – and I say that because what we consider private property exists within the confines and in accordance with the laws of the community. (I’d like to see how long the folks who insist “the government” shouldn’t be able to tax the property that free people own would survive without the things their tax dollars supply.)
Government isn’t what a lot of people call “majority rule.” Yes, we choose the people who run all levels of government based upon whoever a majority of the voters prefers. (Keep in mind that voter turnout in most Hendricks County elections is abysmal.) At all levels, those people are expected to act as our representatives in performing the business of government while obeying laws. They don’t get to do whatever they want whichever way they want to do it. But those people are also not expected to consult you on every decision they make.
It all begins with the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” That gives the Governor and the Indiana General Assembly the authority to determine how things should be done in these parts, and local government is given the responsibility for carrying out many of their choices.
Every decision your elected officials make will result in some people being extremely happy, and others quite furious. In 23 years as one of those officials, I made a lot of decisions that generated a lot of anger. But not once did I make a decision based on whatever made the most people happy. I made them in accordance with the law, our district’s policies, and whatever I believed was best for our community’s children.
The people who came to me with strong opinions on either side often had a limited perspective of the issue or even misunderstood why an action was needed. I’m not saying they were stupid – just that they hadn’t considered other aspects because they didn’t know about them. As I listened to their concerns, I also tried to help them understand the realities. Complain to me about our district’s reluctance to call snow days, and I’ll share information on the number of single parents who end up having to choose between a day’s pay and leaving a 7-year-old alone at home.
The more you learn about how all levels of government work – but especially the local level – the less you’ll fall for conspiracy theories or common myths. Feel strongly about a particular issue? Find out which elected official is responsible for dealing with it and share your perspective. You don’t need to yell at them in the canned-goods aisle. Just have a polite conversation. Let them know why the issue matters to you. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions to learn more about it. And don’t be surprised if they have a few questions of their own. I learned a lot from the public.
Whether you choose to take advantage of it or not, you’re one of the owners of the commonwealth. That means you’re also part of the government. I hope you do your part to take good care of it.