Lately, it feels like everywhere you turn — TV, social media, even conversations with friends — everything turns into a big political argument.
National issues, “protests,” party fights, who’s right, who’s wrong. Midterms this. Midterms that. But if you’re like most people I know and love here in Santa Clarita, that’s not what’s really weighing on you day to day.
What matters more are the “little” things. The stuff that actually affects your routine, your day-to-day life, your time, your wallet and your overall peace of mind. Don’t get me wrong with the use of the term “little” …
Because in actuality they are BIG issues, but get far less attention than they deserve when it comes to political attention spans.
For me, it’s the extra 15-20 minutes stuck in traffic when it really shouldn’t take that long. It’s driving over the same pothole in the road every day wondering when it’s going to get fixed.
Dealing with simple things recently feel way harder than they need to be — getting basic information, dealing with a process, or just trying to get something done without jumping through endless hoops.
None of that is political. It’s just life. And that is where the plot has been lost. People spend so much time arguing about big national issues that they forget how much daily stress comes from things much closer to home.
The local “small” stuff sounds insignificant when people are perseverating on the big ideas because they are glued to their cable channel of choice — but those smaller issues sure feel important when you’re living them.
Take traffic, for example. Anyone who drives around Santa Clarita during rush hour knows what I’m talking about. That’s time you never get back. Time away from your family, your work, or just a quiet moment to breathe.
Fixing that may not sound exciting. It’s not going to make national news. But it sure would make a real difference. Just ask all the homeowners and small businesses affected by the Bouquet Canyon Road closure!
And then there’s the way everyday people and small businesses have to deal with local systems.
If you’ve ever tried to start something, fix something, or get approval for something, you know it can sometimes feel more complicated than it should be. Time is money — especially for small business owners — and delays or confusion don’t help anyone. My next door neighbor has been trying to get permits for his solar panels for MONTHS. Is it really that complicated? I am frustrated for him!
These aren’t partisan issues. Nobody wakes up and says, “I like bad traffic,” or “I prefer to wait six months for my permits,” or “I hope things are inefficient today.”
These are shared frustrations. It doesn’t matter if you lean left, right, or somewhere in the middle — people just want things to work, and they want them to work efficiently and with transparency.
That is why focusing on local everyday issues matters so much. They’re the common ground. They’re where neighbors can actually agree, even if they vehemently disagree on national topics.
Nothing will affect your daily life more than who you elect to the local water board, school boards and City Council seats. Nothing.
And honestly, when “small” things start getting fixed or done easier, it changes how you feel about everything else. When your commute improves, when your neighborhood feels cared for, when things run a little smoother or easier — you notice. Life feels more manageable.
On the flip side, when those things are ignored, or get worse, it adds up. Little frustrations pile on top of each other. And for people already trying to keep up with rising costs, busy schedules and everything else life throws at them, it doesn’t take much to feel completely overwhelmed.
That’s why everyone should all spend less time caught up in big national political fights that we can’t control, and pay more attention to and advancing what we can fix or improve, right here at home.
Santa Clarita is a great place to live. That’s why so many of us continue to live here. But it stays that way because people who care about the “smaller” issues are actively involved.
Everyday experiences and those local individuals working for the betterment of everyone define a community, whether here or anyplace else.
At the end of the day, most of us aren’t asking for anything extreme. We all want to get through our day a little easier, safer and with less needless frustration.
Getting the small things right is exactly what makes the biggest difference.
Denise Lite is a Santa Clarita resident. “Right Here, Right Now” appears Saturdays and rotates among local Republicans.
