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Re:Startups, let’s act: Make Nov 8 a Holiday by groby_b on Monday August 15, 2016 @01:26PM (#12291868)
If only there were tools that allowed searching the Internet.

If only there were neighbors one could ask.

If only there were city council meetings one could attend.

If only one could mail a letter or make a phone call to the candidates, to ask them about things one considers important.

You get the information by going out and getting it. If you don't, you're saying "I don't care, at all". And those local candidates will often move on to the next higher level at some point. At which point suddenly "I don't care" turns into "we only have terrible choices".

Re:Startups, let’s act: Make Nov 8 a Holiday by jcranmer on Monday August 15, 2016 @05:16PM (#12293522)
It's actually quite difficult to find information on, say, Soil and Water Conservation District Manager (yes, we elect those in some places), particularly since that minor of a race might not even result in websites. It's also difficult to get a full sense of the issues that matter in a race by reading the candidates' websites--and if your local newspaper doesn't help by providing interviews, you can be quite SOL.

The last election took me about 1-1½ hour to figure out whom I was going to vote for.

Re:Startups, let’s act: Make Nov 8 a Holiday by Kluny on Monday August 15, 2016 @05:32PM (#12293644)
The candidates who are running are listed with contact information at city hall. You can call them on the telephone or write them an email asking detailed questions about whatever is relevant to your interests, and you will probably get an excellent reply. If you don't, then you can vote for their opponent or write in your own name.