The last line in the article jumped out at me: “A lot of folks … they’re kind of DIY-ing it until we can get the level of public service that we really need.”

I am through "A Paradise Built in Hell" right now, and that, combined with having spent 6 years in a (small) town leadership position makes me appreciate the unfortunate consequences of thought like that last line.

It feels like leaning hard into capitalist democracy rather than socialist democracy. The idea that things don't get done unless someone gets off their butt, puts a line item in the budget and makes sure someone is getting paid to do it not because they want to but because their compensation is adequate is destined to fail in really unfortunate ways.

Part of the book referenced above is all about the failure of the "organized" parts of government in times of crisis. It turns out, most people in community want things to be better, but learning that the "city" or "county" will do it for you if you just pay your taxes kind of neuters the impulse to be a part of your community. Instead of cleaning up the road side, people end up with book clubs or art committees, because someone's getting paid $12/hr to clean up the road for you. It's not a great look, and has disastrous consequences when things go really bad.