“If ‘Fourth Estate’ news organizations become political actors, we need a ‘Fifth Estate,’ another group of writers and thinkers who police the press. Internet news has gained tremendous power and influence in recent years precisely because Americans distrust many television and print press outlets. With lightning speed, the incessant bloggers on the Internet call attention to distortions in the mainstream press. Furthermore, there is a body of original information available on the Internet that does not appear elsewhere. In short, the New Media is becoming the ‘Fifth Estate’.” —Jeffrey Kuhner, editor of Insight on the News
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Family Fun
WHAT IS TALK CITIZEN??
TALK CITIZEN grew out of an idea that I, had after working in local government as the Stockbridge interim village manager for three months this fall.
It was very obvious from the many obstacles and challenges I faced in that position, that the governance of our small town, like that of many other towns and villages across America, had fallen into decay in terms of the governing principles envisioned by the founding fathers of these burgs.
Administrative inefficiencies were hobbling the budget as were the imminent threats from the state and federal levels of budget cuts in terms of the pass-through tax monies flowing to the local municipalities from the state of Michigan.
I had high hopes I could get in there and re-organize the rest of the operation as I had systematized the Dept. of Public Works, a very tight little group of highly skilled individuals. To my great disappointment, that was not to be. Instead, TALK CITIZEN was born!
TALK CITIZEN is an information hunting/gathering website for citizens who live in small towns and villages across the state of Michigan or the world. It is my attempt at creating the functional virtual village (as opposed to the real dysfunctional one), where the people living there are well-informed and thriving under a transparent and capable local governance monitored by them!
As a good friend and colleague described it, "CITIZENS GET THE LEADERSHIP THEY DESERVE." Without the crucial participatory factor, any government will fall into disrepair and ultimately become broken.
That's where we are today - many levels of government broken and in critical need of repair and revitalization. From this forum in virtual space, I hope to offer my thoughts and creative best to spur the citizens on to take the next step of getting involved and becoming part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Integral to it working will be the ability of each citizen who visits here to throw off the all too common "unapologetic apathy" that blinds us AND is at the root of our problems.
Each information page on this site will have a Message Board Button to click. It is here that I am inviting each and every one of you to TALK CITIZEN! Before it's too late. And by talking, perhaps we will find our way back to right action and renewed interest in the very systems that protect and safe keep our American way of life. You may speak honestly here. "Politically correct" speaking or writing is not welcome here.
Please come back often! I am delighted you would join us in a conversation!
-Yours truly, Sharon Baller
The Road Not Taken -- by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
********************************************************** Dictionary.com defines "patriot" this way: "a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion."
“States, like individuals, who observe their engagements, are respected and trusted...” —Alexander Hamilton
======================================================================== Ordinances for the village of Stockbridge and all other Michigan municipalities may be found at the following link:
“History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower Dear Neighbors & Friends:
It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as interim village manager for the past three months here in Stockbridge. I wish our efforts to advance more open and participatory governance had been more effective. There are grave problems facing the world, the nation, and our village. Anyone paying attention to his intuition feels it. Will you have the courage to step up to the problems and take ownership of them? Or will you be content to be a Bystander?
If you choose to get involved, there are two ways you can do so:
Attend a council meeting.Until a network of communication is in place at the Village offices (i.e., the Internet for citizen agenda review and input, , web cam or net meetings, public television channel for broadcasting all meetings, etc),please attend a Council meeting. You have no idea how powerful your presence can be.
Get involved with The Center for Michigan’s community conversations.On the front page, top most-right-hand column of the Lansing State Journal, Monday, November 05, 2007 there is an article with the head, “State leaders aim to create agenda that’s citizen based.”Phil Power, former newspaper publisher and University of Michigan Regent and long time observer of our state’s politics and economics, has founded a nonpartisan company called The Center for Michigan, “a centrist think-and-do tank.”The article says, “The Center for Michigan has begun convening ‘community conversations’ around the state as part of its Michigan’s Defining Moment campaign.The message and central theme of the campaign:If leaders won’t lead, then citizens must.”http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/moment/
By taking part in community conversations this fall and next spring, anyone who can use email can participate in the public forums and assert their thoughts and opinions about what Michigan needs most.For more information about how to join the forums or to sign up to attend, call 734-769-4625 or send emailto info@thecenterformichigan.net.
The next forum is November 13 in Lansing.You may participate by email if you cannot attend. What is happening in Stockbridge is not unlike what is happening at the state and national levels.Perhaps we need a Defining Moment campaign in Stockbridge.If you are interested in participating in such a local citizens’ conversation, email me at SBaller@LobaTek.com .You only need an email account and internet access to get involved today at a grassroots level.The information we gather can and should be synchronized with what The Center for Michigan is doing. In any event, I hope we can all encourage and achieve constructive and positive outcomes for our families and our shared community interests. I greatly appreciate getting to know so many of you, and I look forward to associations and experiences we may share in the future.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
“History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.”~Dwight D. Eisenhower Copyright 2007-2008TALK CITIZEN ™ is a trademark of LobaTek Incorporated
View Sharon Baller's profile
