tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611639517962742486.post7832276931752033432..comments2024-03-25T15:31:12.151-07:00Comments on We Live In A Political World: #8 / More Government #2Gary A. Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049925834933920507noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611639517962742486.post-66459909074420830752014-01-08T14:10:43.829-08:002014-01-08T14:10:43.829-08:00I absolutely agree that we need more participation...I absolutely agree that we need more participation in government!Gary A. Pattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049925834933920507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611639517962742486.post-14018750807063005512014-01-08T11:14:11.173-08:002014-01-08T11:14:11.173-08:00I agree we don't need "more government.&q...I agree we don't need "more government." <br /><br />However, we do need more participation in government. Government "by the people" ceases to exist when "the people" no longer have an avenue for meaningful involvement in the course of local, state and national decision-making.<br /><br />I have long proposed a government grounded in Neighborhood Assemblies, where neighbors meet to discuss local issues and problems, craft solutions and present them to representative bodies via a recognized local decision-making body.<br /><br />Government today, is top down, with citizens relegated to the role of observers and rubber stampers of decisions made outside of their input and control. Neighborhood Assemblies are the starting point for bottom up governance, where problems and solutions are identified and sent upward through the government bureaucracy.<br /><br />In Neighborhood Assemblies, citizens have a direct role in the day to day course of government.Michael A. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980105313542633114noreply@blogger.com