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<br /> The Case for Citizen <br /> Involvement in Local <br /> Government Decision Making <br /> The mood among American citizens is downright <br /> ugly, according to Daniel Yankelovich, chairman <br /> of DYG, Inc., a marketing and management <br /> consulting firm located In Elmsford, New York. <br /> In November 1994, Yankelovlch addressed the <br /> National Civic League's 100th National <br /> Conference on Governance, where he reported <br /> that Ilpeople are frustrated and angry, anxious <br /> and off balance, pessimistic about the future, <br /> and cynical about all forms of leadership In <br /> government. " <br /> Yankelovich's observations are supported by a study <br /> conducted between mid-1990 and "lay 1991 on behalf <br /> of the Kettering Foundation by The Harwood Group, <br /> a public issues research and consulting firm in Bethesda, <br /> Maryland. Based on a series of 10 two-hour, focus-group <br /> discussions of approximately 12 citizens each~ the <br /> Harwood report re,'ealed that citizens fail to participate <br /> in the U.S. political process because they feel that: <br /> 1. They have been denied access to the political <br /> process. Despite the glut of media, public hearings, <br /> bulletin boards, and other information aimed at <br /> educating citizens. the average individual feels that <br /> he or she has been shut out of the U.S. political <br /> process. <br /> 2, They have no sense of connection to the issues. <br /> Citizens report that politics are not a part of their <br /> daily lives because the issues that rise to the top of <br /> the political agenda do not reflect their needs and <br /> desires. rvJany Americans believe that public issues <br /> are framed in a way that seems to have no <br /> connection to themselves. <br /> 3. Their faith in the mechanisms of public <br /> expression has been shaken. Despite numerOllS <br /> opportunities for participation, most Americans feel <br /> that "no one is listening." Citizens also complain <br /> about the lack of "two-way discussion" that takes <br /> place during public meetings. <br /> 4- They often don't know how to participate. <br /> Citizens feel that there are not enough opportunities <br /> for them to "go sorne'vvhere" and express their <br /> opinioIlS. They have a hard time believing that there <br /> _____ ______.____._._ __. - __.._..____n__. "__~_'____' ._______.,,___ .____~ <br />