While the world watches American politics, I got a knock on the door from my local councillor
Obama. McCain. Battleground state. Sarah Palin. Early voters. Record turnout. Robocalls. Twitter vote report. It's all going off in American politics - but spare a thought for the British local councillor.
On a chilly night, I was watching the news and cooking my dinner and the doorbell went. I thought it was my girlfriend, as usual not bothering to use her keys, but instead it was my local councillor. I've just moved into the Sharoe Green area of Preston, Lancashire, and been here about four weeks. So while the world was focusing on America, my local councillor wanted to ask me about street lighting and crossing the busy road next to my house.
It was nice to be asked, give my view and the councillor looked like he gave a shit about what I was saying. He asked my opinion on a few other things and asked if there was anything else I could help with. We discussed housing/home buying (all the time him looking a bit cold, but still caring) and he gave me his card.
So, while the world gets wrapped up in the American elections and the outcome, spare a thought for the local councillors who are dealing with often small problems that have a big impact on local people's lives. It's also a lesson to politicians and journalists alike, get out there, talk to people and you'll find out things. You can't sit at a desk all day and expect it to come to you on a plate, or via the web, real people and real stories and issues are always on the doorstep.
Andy Dickinson made a good post about the value of journalists getting out onto the beat, and it's a good one. While the social web allows you to interact with communities and find out issues on discussions forums, blogs etc - nothing will ever beat going to find a person and find a story and get opinions. People make stories after all.
The same goes for politicians. While we want them to be using emails, twitter, blogging etc - we still like to think that they are around on the streets, listening and making changes happen in the local community. Let's hope that politicians carry on doing what my local councillor did. In this crazy age of global politics, raise a glass or virtual glass to the likes of Councillor E.P.Fazackerley.