Civic Action Makes for a Better Government

By State Representative Cam Ward

Another election year is over and it is now time for elected officials to get down to the business of governing.  After a season of finger pointing and nasty political ads one has to ask themselves ‘where do we go from here?’  For most citizens it would be easy to get discouraged with government and just throw your hands up in disgust, but for government to really serve us better we must play an active role in improving the system. This not only goes for elected officials but also society as a whole.  Negative campaigns and a lack of trust in government can only be fixed when both elected officials and those they represent take on greater civic responsibility throughout the year and not just at election time.   

            A recent national poll by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that most people knew more about The Simpsons television cartoon than they knew about their rights protected under the First Amendment.  This finding coincides with a continuing decline in voting rates among our youth and continuing increase in public disapproval for the direction the country is headed. 

What can be done to reverse these disturbing trends?  First, we as elected officials must begin to listen more.  There are many different views on how to make our state a better place to live but if we are not listening then we are not properly serving our constituents.  In addition to listening, I believe now that we are elected we have responsibility to actively engage the citizenry in the issues that are being debated in Montgomery.  On the other side of the coin is the obligation of everyone in our community to not only vote at election time but to let their elected officials know what issues they feel are important to them throughout the year. 

Listening and engaging in honest discussion about the issues go hand in hand.  One action will not work without the other.  I am now entering my second term in the Alabama House of Representatives and while I do not know all the answers to the problems that our state faces, I believe that listening to those I represent can give me a great deal more insight into making our government better serve us.  As we get ready for another legislative session I would like to hear from you about the issues you think are important.  I have designed a quick survey which can be taken on my web site at www.camward.com.  So many times elected officials do not hear from the people until an issue has already passed.  I ask that you please take the time to fill out this survey and share your thoughts with me on what you think about issues that will be facing us in the future. 

Action by both elected officials and those we represent are necessary for trust to be restored in government.  Trust in turn will encourage more to get involved in the debate of how we face the challenges that lie ahead. 

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