I’m going to attend at least one government meeting each month for a year. Not to advocate. Not to testify. Just observe how it all works. Want to join me?

Examples activies:

• Attend a Planning Board meeting – 7/21/2026 @ 6p City Council Chambers 37 Green Street Concord, NH 03301
• Attend the City Council meeting in August.
• Try to figure out exactly WTF the Executive Council does.
• Go to a School Board meeting.
• Attend legislative committee meetings
• Go to a court hearing
• Attend a budget hearing

I’m bringing a notebook and I’ll blog about it here:

• I’ll let you know what surprised me.
• What problems were they actually trying to solve.
• I’ll try to imagine if Aristotle were in the room, what virtue would he say was needed.

The goal is to come away with a richer understanding of how this community government actually functions.

1. Spend a morning at the State House with no agenda in August.
The building is intentionally open because it’s “the People’s House.” So the plan is: Walk in. Wander the halls. Sit in the House gallery quietly for 20 minutes even if nothing is happening. Read the plaques. Watch lobbyists talking to legislators. Talk with the people who work there about committee meetings or public hearings in the Legislative Office Building next door. Basically, get a feel for the place

2. Attend a Planning Board meeting – 7/21/2026 @ 6p City Council Chambers
This is where the real tradeoffs supposedly happen:

• housing vs. neighborhood character
• traffic
• economic development
• zoning
• environmental concerns

Concord’s Planning Board meets publicly 37 Green Street Concord, NH 03301 and you know who has two thumbs and is going to be there? This guy.

3. Watch the Executive Council.
Executive Council is one of New Hampshire’s many quirks. We’ve all voted for them, but WTH do they actually do? Hardly anyone knows. The Google tells me the governor of NH doesn’t govern alone. The elected Executive Council approves many appointments and contracts. What’s going on with this very New Hampshire institution? Imma gonna find out and blog it.

4. I’m going to pick at least one bill next January and follow it from beginning to end. Not because I necessarily care about the outcome but because I want to watch how democracy in action actually works. That means:

• Attend committee hearings
• Listen to impassioned testimony from people who care.
• Observe the executive session
• Hear the floor debate
• Watch it in the senate
• See what the governor does.

Most people have never seen the entire process. I’m about to.

5. Volunteer for a legislator
Since many NH legislators are ordinary people with day jobs, I’m going to be looking for ways to help out, not for $ but for ❤️.

So what do you say? Do you live in New Hampshire? Are you in? Let do this thing and keep an eye on government.