First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
I have been posting to this blog now for about two and half years. Originally I started it as an outlet to offer my opinions on issues and politics. I felt then and still feel that my opinions were of a unique perspective because I am just a normal member of the community. I am not an insider nor do I work for (or conspire with)any particular politicians or candidates although I do know and happily talk to many of them. But obviously like anyone, there are ones that I support. Most importantly the only representatives that I am loyal to are the ones that I feel are doing what is right for our community. Despite my affiliation and beliefs (or what people perceive to be my beliefs) I have no problem praising or ripping on an elected representative even if they happen to be a member of the party that I am affiliated with at that time. What I have refused to do in 2 1/2 years is post the dirt and other personal crap that is given to me almost on a daily basis. So in the scheme of local blogs, that puts me at a disadvantage.
It is safe to say that politics have been an interest of mine since I was 12 or 13. Not just the issues and elections, but the process and the game for lack of a better word. Well I can say that I am pretty well bored with politics at this point. One thing that I have come to realize after 20 or so years of watching the game is this. Despite what your representative or party tells you, government is a show. More so on the state and federal level, but even to an extent on the local level. The decisions are made long before you see them made and by much fewer people than you see actually make them. George Carlin said it best when he said that the purpose of government is to make people feel like they have a say. This doesn't mean that I think government or politicians are bad. Quite the contrary, I believe that almost all politicians start out to make a difference. And on the local level, I think that all of our representatives are doing what they believe to be the best course of action. But the longer they are in the system and the higher they go the more they sell out what is right and replace it with what gets them more power and better jobs. Unfortunately it is how the system is set up. You and I, even if we were to donate to a state or federal level politician can not and will never be able to compete with their powerful friends and lobbyists. It's the way is is. Personally I just put my faith in the fact that what comes around goes around, and eventually these people will have to answer for their actions. And as for those screwed by the system, it seems that eventually things work out for them.
But I digress (a lot). So let's talk about changing things up. There are enough politics blogs locally. And since I am just a voice in the crowd, and also since I am unwilling to try to compete with the other voices nor am I willing to become a propaganda board for anyone, here is what I am planning on doing.
Last month I was talking to a young man that I know, and he was telling me about his weekend plans to participate in Wreaths Across America with a group that he is involved with. Now this is a program that I have followed and supported for years. So I asked him if he was going to the Veterans Cemetery near Albany since I knew there were events scheduled there. He told me that he was participating at local cemeteries, which was a shock to me because I had not heard of local activities. I thought it pitiful of me to not know that a program I support was holding local activities. Furthermore, this like many "GOOD THINGS" that happen in our community received no attention in the local media that I saw.
So it has occurred to me, and I have decided that I am going to start focusing more on the issues that we can promote to have a positive impact on our community. As well as try to raise awareness on what some may consider negative issues but by bringing light to them maybe we can have a positive effect. And I am going to spend pretty much no time (except maybe a post or two in October) on the theater that is politics.
So to those that stop by for the latest gossip, (even though this was never a good place for that) hopefully you will continue to stop by for a change of pace. But if not I am sorry to see you go. And to those that are just interested in all things local.....stick around and bring your friends and maybe we can do some good. To all, thank you for reading over the last two and half years. What I initially started as an experiment has turned out to be a blast. Nothing is cooler than to see hundreds of people a day in some cases log in to see what you wrote.
PS: I case you haven't noticed, for the 2nd time in this blogs history I have deleted everything. Time to start fresh.
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