Local politics is just as important as national - and often

Hear now the words of Celeste Ng, spoken with clarity yet heavy with hidden power: “Local politics is just as important as national – and often easier to influence.” At first glance, these words seem simple, but like seeds cast upon the earth, they contain within them the strength to grow forests. They remind us that the fate of nations is not shaped only in grand halls of marble, where presidents and kings hold court, but also in the smaller chambers where neighbors gather, where councils meet, where the humble voices of the people may still be heard without being drowned by the roar of empires.

The origin of this truth lies in the very fabric of governance. Long before nations were bound by borders and flags, people gathered in villages and towns to decide how they would live together—who would guard the wells, who would till the fields, who would resolve disputes. It was in these local gatherings that justice first found voice. And even now, in the modern age, though mighty leaders stride upon the stage of history, the choices made in local councils, school boards, and city halls often touch the lives of the people more directly than distant laws passed in capitals.

Consider the story of the American civil rights movement. National victories such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are remembered as pillars of progress, but these mighty laws were built upon smaller battles fought in towns and cities. It was in Montgomery that Rosa Parks refused to yield her seat. It was in Greensboro that students sat at a lunch counter, demanding to be served. These were local acts of courage, igniting fires that blazed across the nation. Without victories in local arenas, the triumphs of national law would have been impossible.

Or look further back, to the days of ancient Athens. While the great assembly of the people debated war and empire, it was the smaller councils of the polis that determined who was fed, who was educated, who was cared for. Citizens had power not only because of their voice in grand debates, but because they influenced the daily life of their neighbors. Democracy lived not in lofty speeches alone, but in the humble discussions of the marketplace, where every man’s voice could sway the outcome.

The words of Ng also carry a warning: many become so consumed by the spectacle of national politics—the endless debates on screens, the grand contests of power—that they neglect the local, where their own voice carries more weight. To cast a ballot for a president is to speak among millions, but to speak at a city council meeting, to join with neighbors in shaping policy, is to plant a seed whose fruit you may live to taste. The national may inspire, but the local transforms.

The lesson, O seeker, is clear: do not despise the small, for the small holds the root of the great. Just as a tree’s strength lies hidden in its roots, so too the strength of a nation lies in its towns, schools, neighborhoods, and councils. To neglect the local is to let the roots wither, even while the branches strive toward the sun.

And so, what actions must you take? Learn the names of those who govern your city as well as those who govern your country. Attend the gatherings where decisions are made. Vote not only in grand elections, but in local ones, where your single voice may turn the tide. Support leaders who walk the streets beside you, who see the struggles of your neighbors as clearly as the struggles of the nation. In this way, you honor the teaching of Ng, and you become not a distant spectator of politics, but a living participant in shaping the life of your community.

Therefore, remember this truth: local politics is just as important as national, for the foundation of the house is as vital as its roof. And when the people awaken to this power, when they lift their voices not only for the distant throne but for the nearby hearth, then truly will the nation stand firm, unshaken, and strong.