Agree with your point, but do want to point out I've lived in places where not toeing the local party line results in real life harassment, even stalking of people's kids, from friends of elected and non-elected officials. Sometimes that local party line is that police are infallible, and if you ever disagree with what they want to do, that must mean you're criminal and hate police, and are made a local pariah when you're personally called out by the police chief.
People have been driven out of town for voicing support for BLM, for example, not to mention the harassment that comes from participating in school board meetings if you disagree with the board.
Not even sure what my point is here, other than saying that sometimes engaging in local politics isn't safe for everyone. I made a post about it here on HN in the past, but I watched a single mother get doxxed and harassed because she disagreed with the mayor on policy. The mayor did the doxxing. YMMV of course.
People have been driven out of town for voicing support for BLM, for example, not to mention the harassment that comes from participating in school board meetings if you disagree with the board.
Not even sure what my point is here, other than saying that sometimes engaging in local politics isn't safe for everyone. I made a post about it here on HN in the past, but I watched a single mother get doxxed and harassed because she disagreed with the mayor on policy. The mayor did the doxxing. YMMV of course.