3 million people live in Toronto. This is like asking if you can get into politics in Chicago and change things.

Of 3 million residents, maybe a few thousand - at most - will be full-time politically committed and active.

The problem isn't the numbers, it's breaking into the patronage and power networks. That's not a numbers game. It's a relationship, influence, and networking game. And some elements will be corrupt, while others will be about carefully cultivated appearance management.

We were so close to having ranked ballots for Toronto which is exactly what we need to improve accountabilituy, but Dougie scrapped that for all Ontario cities. Hopefully we'll get things back on track. https://www.unlockdemocracy.ca/123ontario https://www.rabit.ca/

Somebody who is frustrated shouldn't bother to get into politics or try to change things in big cities because..a lot of people live in them?? huh??

Becoming actively involved in politics is a quixotic endeavour with a high personal cost and very low chances of success. Moving out has much lower cost and much higher chances of solving your problem.

Thank goodness some people get into politics anyway, but it is not a rational choice for a utility-maximizing actor.

It's actually not hard to get into local politics and you can certainly get things done. There's not a lot of competition or money involved and most people haven't figured out you can do it yet. Mainly what happens is older people will scream at you when you say you want a bike lane.

It does take a lot of patience though; you won't get much done in the first year or two.

Forgive my naivete but yes, that's how change happens?

If we look at social movements of the past century, they weren't easy on the members but many of them were successful in bringing about change.

I don't know when it became fashionable to only do things that guarantee success within your lifetime and openly dismiss any other way of life but that's not how people who actually make a difference live.

It's a million times easier to just move away than it is to change anything about a global problem in a city with millions of people. Making a difference doesn't solve personal problems.

Right. I have to wonder where people who don't work in IT will move away to and what they're going to do there.

For IT folks, sure, pack your bags, go to a tropical community built for people with money and live in paradise. What about everyone else?

Voting with feet is often more impactful. Both for the cause and the idividual