Be Gooder
I get a little tired of people telling us that America needs to wake up, that political leaders and government officials are ruining this country – all from the comfort of their couches. Aside from voting and serving on juries, I have always said the best way to make a change, or to make things better, is to get off the couch and go to a meeting. Des Moines resident Jon Shelness recently penned a Letter to the Editor, in Kennedy-esque fashion, prompting residents to play a more active role in community improvement, over merely imposing on elected officials to do all the heavy lifting. What can I do to improve my neighborhood? During the most recent election cycle in the city of Des Moines, I heard citizens ask elected officials, “What will you do to revitalize my neighborhood?” The bigger question we should be asking is, “What can I do, as a resident, to improve my neighborhood?” I am a strong proponent of neighborhood associations because research suggests, ...