You don't think the wealthy using their money to silence the press is a problem in a functioning democracy? How odd.

Isn't asking this kind of like asking "why can't you just stand by and watch everything get worse like everyone else?"

I think it's important not to kid yourself about where power lies in your own society.

Then you don’t know how to read sarcasm.

Is the PRC a people’s republic? Please don’t wish ill-will on the people of China by disagreeing.

Yeah, a bit odd to presume that we might live in one when news like this doesn’t surprise anyone.

Presume we do, or presume we COULD, if this sort of thing is ubiquitously denounced?

Democracies don't "work", we "work" them. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, talking about it as though you were helplessly seperate from it. All your nihilism does is accommodate bullies.

I ought to be ashamed of myself? Are you my aunt or something?

To build, you need permitting. To get a permit, you need permission from the municipality. If the neighbors believe they will be adversely affected by the new building, they may petition the municipality to reject the new building or make them alter the plan, at which point it becomes a political issue, not a private home life issue.

If you want to keep your home life private, don't buy a newspaper to publish articles about it.