On 2nd point - we're at the level of public discourse that my local fb groups are ridden with normal people flipping out about being tracked by local traffic survey camerasm some as a prelude to '15 minute cities zomg!' But some just because. I don't think we're capable of real debate atm. (2/2)

I fear you are correct. But our current discourse seems to consist of the right demanding spending and tax cuts, the left “tax the rich” and nobody actually wanting to discuss what the government should provide and what it might cost.