Participation in Government: but which one?

While looking on Google+ for information on participation in Government I stumbled upon a lot of things, geospatial information systems that make government information more accessible to the public, international Google+ posters with concerns of open government across the globe and... a blog post from Bryan Mulker in our class. 

Bryan discusses "We the People" which is an amazing tool that provides a simple way that allows you to be involved in issues that you care about and to connect with others who have similar beliefs. 

It'd be great if you voted for the next president and your single vote swayed the elections (which I suppose may be a possibility if you sit in the electoral college). Although this isn't always possible, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved in your government, even at local levels. In fact, your participation at the community level will probably have more of a direct impact on your life and seeing how much your community needs you may inspire you more than you think.

I have always been an avid biker, but over this past summer I began to be involved in the Provo Bike Committee. Basically it's a collection of bikers (anyone is welcome), city council members, and even the mayor. They organized events, spread education about biking and biking safety, keep up a sweet blog, and even work to get more bike friendly legislation. It's empowering to know that your voice makes a difference. I now take a greater satisfaction riding my bike, it's not just recreation any more, it's a passion. Getting involved doesn't just improve the system, it improves you.