Do people really care in the Crowsnest Pass?

Good question posed by one of my fellow bloggers, are we so full of apathy in the Pass?

I don't believe so, I believe that deep down most people do care but for the following reasons don't speak up.

A lot of people don't know what the issues are for one. Especially in a small town where you have limited media coverage. Who determines what the issues are? Council? Ninety nine percent of the population never goes to a council meeting so how does the public no what the issues are?

The local media tells them. Is the local media biased, do they only report the issues that matter to them?

Who sets the local agenda in this or any other small community? The politicians, the "in" crowd, Business Interests, The vocal minorities with access to the media and the politicians.

As the public given up on politicians. Look at voter turnouts in the last provincial, and federal elections.

Why is it that most people today can't tell the difference between politicians, there was a time where you knew exactly what the Liberal, Conservative, and NDP parties stood for. There are few people today that can tell you what the principles of those parties are. You have NDP people running for the Conservatives, or the Liberals. Does anybody remember which party Belinda Stronach ran for, does anybody remember what Bob Rae's principles are?

It takes a certain type of person to speak up, to stand up for what they believe in. Especially in a small town, do you know how many times in the last four years I have heard the following;
"If I wasn't in business here I would say..........."
"Do you think I want to get ripped apart by the media like ............ did"
"My kids go to that school with hers do you think I want to hear that crap for the next two years"
"What if I ever need council they won't forget"
"Between me and you I agree with you completely but don't tell my wife, mother in law, husband etc"

Do people feel that politicians only listen to them at election times?

Do people feel like politicians are only looking after their own interests? how many politicians leave political life and go straight to work for companies that benefited from there actions while they were a politician?

Why is it that only politicians know whats best for the community?

Why is it that politicians listen very closely to people, to groups, to information, facts that work for their political agenda, but those same people can present information on issues that don't match up with political agendas and they are brushed aside by those same politicians?

The above reasons are why a lot of people don't speak up here and elsewhere. But as I stated earlier I do believe people care sometimes it just takes the right issue to bring them out.

You do see an examples of that lnow and again, look at what's happening in Calgary right now a 25% tax increase was proposed over three years. The outrage as been very loud, some of the politicians are starting to hear the public.