I would add that if voting/protesting isn't enough to feel like it's "doing something" there is always the option of fixing things from within. I know that's a

I would add that if voting/protesting isn't enough to feel like it's "doing something" there is always the option of fixing things from within. I know that's a bit of a fairy tale idea for many, and few seem to have the convictions to actually do so once they are in a position to, but that doesn't mean that YOU, dear reader, would fail the same way. Seriously, run for city council or something. Fix the bugs the same way you would an interconnected system: find where things (money, proposals, solutions) drop out, find where things are miscommunicated, optimize, upgrade, and secure the edge systems that directly interact with the client (the people). It might take a lot of effort and people doing this, and many many years, but I think it is a more viable long term solution than waiting for things to magically get better enough that you feel like a vote will suffice.