alt Hacker NewsProtests come when people are pushed into a corner with little other choice. Participation is more prevalent when people have free time in their lives. Our economics has systematically squeezed free time out in favor of more work to most of our workforce, and particularly hard for young people.
One reason so many local city policies favor the old, is that they're retired and have the time to participate
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This. I fought against a zoning exception (ironic comment) that would allow an asphalt plant near my children's school. When we showed up at meetings, they were canceled and rescheduled at different times for 'reasons'. I managed to get people there every time, but it was tough for parents to get there, and it seemed like the process had been weaponized against our participation.
I don't think economics have squeezed out free time -- phones squeeze out all our free time.
When in American history have we had more free time for civic participation?