We are suffering with that all along the west coast.
People complain and bitch all the time then just vote in the incumbent or a recycled version of them. Mostly because those already in power have bent their knee to corporations and lobbies, so as long as they play ball the campaign funding will keep flowing.
Most primary attempts are just drowned out by the money and fatigue of voters seeing too mant candidates that say the same thing… so incumbet it is.
Then comes the election where they get to choose, the same old thing OR some maga qanon crazy ready to take away basic human rights.
It sucks.
There are parts of the U.S. that are much more grounded to real issues that actually effect them and are not interested in the culture or political wars we commonly see on social media.
Glad to hear other parts of the world are still functioning socially but it is a shame that are politics are invading. Maybe its the new oil!