Elizabeth R. (esjro) - , reviewed on 9/8/2024 + 949 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I read a lot of books about politics and current events, but I was particularly looking forward to reading this one as I have relatives in Sequim. The author does deep dives into the local politics of two small communities, Sequim in Washington and Shasta County, California. The local governments of both go off the rails during the COVID pandemic, and their resistance to mask mandates and lockdowns evolves into adoption of QAnon conspiracies and far-right opinions on book banning, gender identity and immigration. The local government of Sequim eventually returns their focus to local issues such as affordable housing and the community's opioid problem, but Shasta County countinues to be more obsessed with voting machines and expanding open carry.

The types of local disagreements described here (those that become heated battles in which people are threatened with violence and communities are torn apart) continue to take place around our country, especially leading up to the next presidential election. This book demonstrates the importance of civic involvement in local politics and how without it a minority of people with extreme viewpoints can take over a community.

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