> Seems like we're seeing an increasing number of cases where small-time officials who used to work largely unseen because no one went to meetings of things lik

> Seems like we're seeing an increasing number of cases where small-time officials who used to work largely unseen because no one went to meetings of things like the local water board, are getting resentful because now they're on video or citizens are starting to show up and ask questions, and they're not responding well to all the democratic involvement. Caveat that there are very different factors in play in more populated areas. As a thankfully-former Florida resident, there's also a current of hitherto politically unengaged (and still democratically uneducated) citizens showing up at meetings and deciding that if they yell the loudest they should get their way. Some of the shit grown-ass adults did at Florida school board meetings was just mind-blowingly ignorant. It also made me realize how low the bar of civic education is in the US. Real democratic change comes from organizing, coalition building, compromise, and engagement with stakeholders. Not knee-jerk emotional outbursts.