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The Personal Gut Check:
Questions Citizen Activists Should Answer
Foreword: Today's political world is particularly
infested with the lowest forms of vice, dishonesty,
brutality, and corruption. No human being, no matter
how brilliant or good-intentioned, is above being tempted
and scathed by this indecent meat grinder. The
thoughts below are designed to assist the activist in
constructing his own self-evaluation. Frequent gut
checks, combined with good friends who watch your back, can
aid each citizen activist in averting moral disaster.
Questions to frequently ponder:
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Are you seeking to obtain
power, or to empower others?
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Do you accept that the world
and these political battles will go on without you if you
disappear tomorrow?
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Are you avoiding all credit?
Do you accept awards and honors?
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How much time do you spend
attempting to help others gain experience and leadership
skills?
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Which issues are you focused
on and at what level?
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Are you willing to let others
fail?
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Do you need position to feel
effective?
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Do your grassroots friends
seem more strange and out of touch?
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Do you enjoy being recognized
in a crowd of people by a legislator?
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Do you watch to see others see
that you are recognized?
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Do you have to have your name
on something?
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How likely are you to stand
for something if you are alone? (This is indicative of your
need for acceptance and acknowledgement of others.)
Responses citizens should
prepare before they are needed. Will you:
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Join their committee?
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Host a town meeting at your
home with the legislator as the special guest?
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Put other activists down for
being too confrontational or honest?
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Go to a Jazz game or have
frequent dinners with an official?
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Accept an award for your
efforts?
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Back down when alone and
confronted by angry citizens acting on behalf of, or at the
urging of, elected officials?
Top
If you have comments or suggestions, please
email us at info@accountabilityutah.org.
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