On relishing the dry, unsexy work of democratic governance

It's the glue that makes the rest of the levels hold together

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We’re getting pounded for the second time in a week. Due to consistent subfreezing temperatures, the nine inches from a few days ago is pretty much still the base as we get several inches more.

One of my Old Boomer Tropisms is watching Channel 13 evening news. These people seem solid and trustworthy and well-positioned to give me the straight skinny.

Right now, the coverage is of this snowstorm and the city’s response. What I’m struck by is the repeated observation from those interviewed that the city needs to structurally do something different in the Department of Public Works regarding plowing of connector and side streets with the same kind of urgency major arteries are getting.

I know from experience that such discussions will conclude in city / county budget meetings.

For about two years, I covered local government for a media company that owns several radio stations and maintains a local-news website. I covered city council county council, county commissioners, zoning boards of various jurisdictions, redevelopment commission, school board, utilities board, solid waste management board meetings, human rights commission meetings. And more.

Between you and me, for the most part they were boring as ——. Seriously. People looking exhaustively at Power Point slides of arcane data and deliberating way past their bedtimes.

But you know what? It’s the grunt work of democracy. It’s how the whole answer to the question of how we can organize a society that puts everybody’s dignity, personal and property rights, and basic well-being in a framework consistent with ordered liberty is arrived at. Citizens taking time out of their lives to address questions of immediate impact to their neighbors.

There’s nothing too sexy about it. Oh, there’s the occasional reception when the parks department announces a new bike path, which makes for fun wine-and-nibbles-and-hobnobbing.

But it’s mostly grownups discussing the questions that allow them to peaceably coexist.

It’s handled differently in other places.

We should value the way we’ve done it here. It’s worked remarkably well.