Last week, a local radio personality from Monroe County expressed surprise on “X” after discovering that millions of dollars were spent on new touch-screen election machines. He asked, “Why did we need them? Why was it a good idea?” This question reveals an important unsettling truth: most residents have no idea how their tax dollars are being spent locally. Many have never attended a board meeting or read the budget. In fact, our focus is often on national and international matters, while local issues get sidelined. This tendency is reinforced by the media, which often prioritizes national news over local concerns.

Interestingly, a similar debate took place recently on a national level. Vice President JD Vance and UK MP Rory Stewart engaged in a debate about the concept of the “hierarchy of obligations.” In an interview with Fox, Vance stated, “There is a Christian concept that you love your family, then your neighbor, then your community, then your fellow citizens, and finally, after that, you prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the left has completely inverted that.” Stewart responded, calling this view a “bizarre take on John 15: 12-13—less Christian and more pagan tribalism.” Vance, defending his position, tweeted, “Just Google ‘ordo amoris.’ Aside from that, the idea that there isn’t a hierarchy of obligations violates common sense. Does Rory really think his moral duties to his own children are the same as his duties to a stranger thousands of miles away? Does anyone?”

Looking up the term “ordo amoris,” you'll find it is defined as the "order of affections or love." According to C.S. Lewis, “St. Augustine defines virtue as “ordo amoris,” meaning the orderly condition of the affections where every object is loved in the appropriate degree.” ( https://classicallyhomeschooling.com/ordo-amoris/ ) Simply, it’s a framework for prioritizing what is important.

Our society has inverted our civic responsibilities by prioritizing national and international politics over the needs of our own communities. The look and feel of our communities is determined locally. We have delegated responsibility to the state and federal government, which is often the least equipped to address our immediate needs. Instead of focusing on the well-being of our families, neighbors, and communities, we invest time and energy in far-away political matters where we have little direct influence.

Voting patterns demonstrate this imbalance of voter attention. As can be seen in the two graph’s below, citizens often turn out to vote for President but neglect to participate in local elections, where voter turnout is alarmingly low.

It is time we reorient our priorities and focus on what we can control: the well-being of our own communities. The impact of rooting out corruption and encouraging fiscal responsibility locally will have a ripple effect, strengthening the national conscience. If thousands of citizens across the country focus on improving their local communities, we can bring about systemic change.

To help residents become knowledgeable and take action, Project Civica is offering an opportunity this Thursday 2/6 at 7:30 pm to learn how to read their municipal budget via Zoom. This is an invitation to become the watchdog for their community, to demand fiscal responsibility, and to ensure that local governments are held accountable.

Take responsibility for your own backyard. Local action is where you can prioritize what truly matters and spark the reform we need.

Sign up for “How to read your Municipal Budget 101” Thursday 2/6 at 7:30 pm at ProjectCivica.org.