Combat Incivility with Civic Participation

A healthy democracy needs ordinary people to be extraordinarily engaged

Of all the many forms of civic participation, voting is typically one of the least time-consuming. Yet in the 2016 U. S. general election, nearly 40 percent of the eligible voting population didn’t cast ballots. 2018 marked a record year for midterm voting, but even then about 50 percent of those who could vote didn’t exercise their constitutional right. Whether it’s succumbing to feelings of cynicism, apathy or thinking that political issues are just too big to take a position on, lack of participation in our increasingly interconnected world is having far reaching impacts. Probably the most salient example of this is the issue of climate change. When we elect leaders who don’t acknowledge and take action on climate change, the effects reverberate globally and impact every single organism on the planet, including all 7.7 billion of us.

Voting, however, is hardly the only way to participate in civic life. There are many ways to get involved in one’s community and influence the political discourse, such as helping others get registered to vote. These activities carry varying time commitments but it’s important to not hold an all-or-nothing view on being an agent of progress and change. Every small step taken to positively engage with the world is a vital drop in the bucket toward a better society, and the following are a variety of steps to take.

Talk to your neighbors

Conversing with our neighbors in the flesh can be a goldmine of information about our community as well as an opportunity to gain new perspectives. Speaking with people outside of family and friends is helpful in understanding those who may ostensibly differ from us, but really share a lot of similarities when we get to know them. Even a brief chat in which we learn about a problem someone may be having can illuminate a shared humanity. It enables us to consider what it would be like to be in their situation instead of viewing them as a statistic.

Know your representatives

Elected officials at the local, state and nationally levels often hold events or office hours to grant public access to their position. In a democracy, it’s voters who give them power and so in a way, you’re their boss! Events like town halls, coffee house chats and lobby visits are scheduled times when members of the public can meet with their representatives either individually or as a group. Make the most of the opportunity by preparing questions and comments ahead of time. If an official pledges to take action on something, make sure you have their contact information so you can follow up on the particular issue in the future. Contact information can be found on government websites or you can plan a visit to the nearest city hall, county seat or state capitol.

Volunteer

The GDP (gross domestic product) is focused on as the beacon of a nation’s prosperity, but by nature of being limited to just economics, it doesn’t take stock of more important indicators such as levels of happiness, environmental health, public health, levels of poverty, sustainability etc. Another vital part of society that’s not accounted for in GDP is unpaid work, however it’s an important contributor to economic wealth as well as other less quantitative forms of social wealth.

Volunteering in one’s community can have far reaching benefits, and though it may not be officially accounted for, can improve a society. A quick search will reveal many nonprofit agencies where one can devote efforts, even if it’s just an hour per month. An environmental stewardship organization might hold a springtime native tree planting. A nursing home or hospice may need volunteers to spend time with the elderly. Animal shelters and rescues often need volunteers to help with animal care. A more grassroots volunteer effort could take the form of organizing a neighborhood cleanup where residents pick up trash from parks, beaches and other public areas. For those looking to take on a greater role, nonprofit organizations sometimes look to volunteers to fill board of directors seats to help steer the organization’s future.

Apply for Community Development Block Grants

One of the longest running programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the CDBG program is designed to benefit low and moderate income communities. The grants themselves require citizen participation in the utilization of funds to address community needs such as affordable housing creation, infrastructure improvements or rehabilitating blighted areas.

Organize a block party

The merriment of an outdoor summer block party is truly something special. The setup often involves blocking off a stretch of road in a residential area, which creates a novel space for people to convene and have fun while cars stay parked. Block parties draw residents of all ages out of their homes and into a neutral zone where they can get to know each other and enjoy food and entertainment. Inquire with your local police department or municipality to secure necessary permits.

Serve on local boards or commissions

Local governments depend on knowledgeable and dedicated residents to serve on government oversight boards and commissions. The positions include overseeing budgets, public utilities and seats on planning, parks and environmental sustainability commissions. Because these roles carry a high level of responsibility, in-depth application processes are common. Furthermore, positions that require greater time commitments may offer a stipend as compensation.

Run for public office

While some may grow up knowing that they’re destined for a career in politics, others are drawn to becoming a public servant because they see a need for positive change in their locale and view their experience and skills as tools to see their vision to fruition. Any concerned citizen could find themselves in this position, such as a parent who wants to serve on a school board to help improve the education system or a retired police officer who wants to run for district attorney to fight for criminal justice reform. If you’re someone with integrity who’s undertaken many of the aforementioned steps to be civically engaged, you might consider campaigning for office to lend a fresh perspective to politics.

Be respectful

With increasing divisiveness and incivility in American life, one of the greatest ways to buck the trend is to be more respectful when interacting with others, including those who belong to a different social group or hold a differing point of view. This is true both online and in-person dialogue. It has become all too common for people to demonize “the other side” and operate on the assumption that some people are just bad to the core without even knowing them.

The majority of the time if someone is mean or hostile, they’re that way because they’ve somehow been taught to be, just don’t know any better or are simply having a rough time. The best way to respond is to be kind and respectful while maintaining appropriate boundaries (don’t be anyone’s punching bag). That way you can demonstrate a good example and create the possibility for constructive dialogue.