When it comes to government, we need better sensemaking

Is local government turning into professional wrestling?

Our communities are facing some major issues these days. From a dilapidated building and street closure in Troy to rental property concerns in Piqua, it seems like everything from annexations in Bethel Township to zoning and development in Tipp City is grabbing the attention of residents.

Social media and traditional media are buzzing with these stories, and locals often find themselves unwittingly pulled into arguments about these important topics. Now, I understand that not everyone may agree with me when I say these issues are crucial, but I strongly disagree. We are all members of a community and we have made sizable investments to be a part of that community.

You know what this reminds me of? Professional wrestling. Yeah, I know it's a bit of a jump, but hear me out. One of the foundations of professional wrestling is about this concept called "kayfabe." It's like the illusions you see in the ring are real. They've got scripted characters, good guys (faces) and bad guys (heels), and the actions they perform are designed to evoke an emotional reaction from you, the viewer. Wrestling promoters figured out that when they script storylines, the action gets better and fans get more invested. It's all about getting people involved, selling more tickets, and making more money. And if you pay attention, you can start seeing the pattern.

Now, here's the twist: it seems like kayfabe has found its way into politics. And I'd argue that it's even more damaging when it happens in our own hometowns. Instead of discussing ideas and concepts, our public discourse becomes all about individuals and their personalities. People aren't defined by what they believe or what they do; they're defined as either "good guys" or "bad guys." Good guys can get away with just about anything, and bad guys can never fully redeem themselves. These new political tactics do more harm to our ability to govern ourselves than we can even imagine.

And it becomes more pernicious when kayfabe gets thrown into local politics. Let's not forget that there's no form of local government more important than the one closest to you—the one that serves you directly. Your state and federal governments don't handle your trash collection, pave your roads, or ensure water flows from your faucet. The decisions made in city halls, township buildings, and county courthouses have a direct and profound impact on your daily life. So when seemingly small issues arise, it's important for us and our community to pay attention.

Unfortunately, many politicians have realized that grabbing attention isn't about discussing ideas and actions. It can easily be achieved by categorizing people as "good guys" or "bad guys." When you start hearing a politician or public figure talk more about others and their ideas rather than their own, you're being pulled into the professional wrestling world of kayfabe.

Let's face it: local government has never been great at explaining why it does what it does. Sure, they're happy to tell you "what" they've done or "what" they plan to do, but when you ask them "why," things get a bit murky. The general idea is that if residents just knew what the local government was up to, everything would be crystal clear.

But here's the truth: it's not a lack of knowledge that keeps residents in the dark; it's a lack of honest sense-making. That's what drives our residents to ask questions and push local decision-makers for honest and open answers. Unfortunately, some of the worst among us in local government prefer to talk about those who oppose our ideas rather than the ideas themselves.

And let's be real, the responses we often get from the folks in the ivory towers of local government can feel hollow and self-serving. The dialogue rarely focuses on the impact of decisions on our lives; instead, it's all about how those decisions will benefit "the community." The fundamental problem with this approach is that these messages often come across as propaganda rather than imparting wisdom.

Honestly, the last thing our communities and society need is leaders spinning the same old company line. It's not enough to just report what's happening. Nowadays, there are more outlets than ever giving us the play-by-play account of the latest happenings. Don't believe me? Just spend five minutes on your favorite social media platform, and you'll be bombarded with updates about your community.

What we truly need are leaders who are committed to helping us make sense of what's happening in our communities right now and how today's decisions will shape our future in profound ways. And making sense of it all isn't about pushing a particular agenda; it's about listening to the concerns and needs of the people they serve. Only through genuine dialogue and honest conversation can we begin to untangle the complexities of our ever-changing communities.

And that's exactly the whole purpose of this effort. We don't need to resort to cheap kayfabe games because we understand that the long-term cost is just too high. The short-term gains of pitting one person against another aren't worth sacrificing the long-term benefits of finding solutions that benefit the entire community.

If we truly value the long-term over the short-term, we need leaders who share that commitment. We need leaders who carefully consider the consequences of their actions, both now and in the future. We need leaders who refrain from mentioning others in their public messages, focusing instead on their own ideas. We need leaders who work tirelessly to find optimal solutions that benefit the greatest number of people. And most importantly, we need leaders who approach their roles with humility and honesty.

We need leaders who see us as more than just faceless members of the crowd at a wrestling show. We need leaders who will level with us and treat us with respect.

Together, we can make a difference and create a brighter future for our communities.