Greetings! From time to time, Insight Weekly will carry an article on politics and economics beyond our local arena. We did this last week and now this week. It's a daunting reality that our country is tilting away from its original democratic ideals. But I stay optimistic about the arc of history and take hope in thoughtful, non-ideological views and analysis that raise consciousness and may provide potential solutions.

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Several readers wrote to me after last week's Insight Weekly asking what they can do about some of the situations I report. Not everyone wants to take action and that's OK. Staying informed is a necessary basic step. For those who want to express opinions or ask questions, here are some ways to do it.

1. Google the government or agency. Find the email of a Councilor, or the Mayor, or the Board Chair, or a Board member you know and write to them! Then, call them! Ask for a specific explanation of why the organization is doing what it's doing. Don't let anyone put you off! Say what you think - respectfully! Write again to confirm anything you've said.

2. Inform your friends and get them to do #1 above. Show our leaders you care about what they're doing.

3. Watch videos of Ketchum City Council and Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency meetings live or after-the-fact in the comfort of your own home. Listen to the audio for Sun Valley's Council meetings. You can think about things as you listen and not feel obligated to say something. What goes on can be infuriating and hard to believe. But it can also be gratifying when Councilors operate sensibly and effectively!

4. Attend a few meetings although it's inconvenient. Call for dates and times. Only you can provide a sense of accountability to our leaders. Take a friend! Learn together. Imagine yourself at the head of the table. If you have something to say, say it and don't be self-critical. Everyone knows it's scary to do! And, with your words on record, you'll have represented a view that can always be recaptured and repeated. 

5. Read meeting minutes from websites. Ketchum and Sun Valley record their meetings but reading minutes is quicker and you can ponder them: County (2015 minutes are not yet there), Bellevue, Hailey, Sun Valley, Ketchum. Choose one a week to get a feeling for how these meetings operate. 

6. Remind yourself that officials are people too. They often feel intimidated about what they don't know and how they're supposed to act - but they don't want to look stupid.  They've offered themselves up for public service and it can feel fruitless if there's no apparent public to serve. When we ignore the democratic process, officials can defensively develop indifference, carelessness, and an "attitude" that might lead to things going terribly wrong. We need to let them know that we're all in this together!

7. The toughest one of all: Recruit people to run for office. Run for office yourself!  Encourage your son or daughter or brother or friend to attend some meetings to find out what's going on; we need effective leaders from the next generation to step up to bat. The job, of course, is not for everyone but this valley's - indeed our country's - biggest problem is not having enough earnest, thoughtful, practical, community-minded people (not ideologues or egotists) willing to serve and to work to improve daily governance and the system driving it.  

Until next week....Jima Rice