You can have over 100 followers on Twitter in a few days. You can find almost anything (except maybe your City Council Subcommittee Meeting Minutes) online. And you can start a movement from your dining room table.
We're used to making things happen quickly. But politics doesn't move quickly. At all. Ever. And this can be very very frustrating for everyone involved. The latest example? Health Care Reform.
But I disagree with those who say that real politics is like sausage making. Sausage making is not what's happening 'behind closed doors.' Any government affairs consultant can tell you exactly what's happening behind closed doors: Elected and agency officials are negotiating. Mediating. Resolving conflicts with key constituent organizations and their representatives who have brought political capital to the table.
Please understand: I'm not defending the current system, I'm just describing its realities in the hopes of helping you or your organization/client prepare to do effective battle. If you are not at the table, you could be on the menu.
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