It's also partially because the "upper crust" of intelligent, wealthy individuals is far less locally invested than in the past. They're more mobile and tend to

It's also partially because the "upper crust" of intelligent, wealthy individuals is far less locally invested than in the past. They're more mobile and tend to connect with others and communities less because of geography and more because of shared experiences (e.g. university alums), shared industries/professions, and similar economic statuses. These are the people who, in the past, would have had strong investment in local politics and the intelligence to problem solve issues at that level.