"...the public is afforded direct input into the expenditure of their money."
yeah, right!
many are stuck on the clogged freeways, talking on their cell phones, and rear-ending the vehicles ahead of them.
when they get home, their concerns are: sex, eating, alcohol, drugs, hollywood movies, sports, shopping, and gambling.
meanwhile, at the local californios library some bolshevik has ordered books in spanish, cambodian, vietnamese, chinese, etc., and books you want to read are NOT available.
si.
That is an accurate analysis IMO.