For the past five years I have been spending at least half of my waking hours as part of an effort to create what I believe to be positive change in the world. Sadly, over the years, my trust in the position of the elected official at almost every level of government has steadily eroded.
I now realize it would be delusional for me to keep pretending that most elected officials value or even consider input from ordinary members of the public. I have come to see the futility of expecting any but a few politicians to actually listen to what members of the public have to say.
But a few shining lights in the gloom have kept me personally from giving up on grassroots advocacy as a way to encourage elected officials to create change. One of these lights has been Eugene City Councilor Bonny Bettman. Not only has Bettman been a stalwart defender of human rights and environmental justice, but she’s been proactive by going on the offensive to push forward positive change, rather than just fighting off the next bad proposal.
I’m sure I’m speaking for many others in this city when I say: Thanks Councilor Bettman, for having the heart to honestly listen to what people have to say, for having the guts to speak out against what’s wrong, for having the backbone to stand up for what’s right, and for having the vision to move forward what is necessary.