When citizen consent is limited to elections, institutions that look democratic can operate like disciplined clubs, which is why elite circulation and oligarchic drift need counterweights. Two classic blueprints for political organization still shape local government. John Locke’s account of democracy treats office as a revocable trust grounded in majority consent and limited powers. Vladimir… Continue reading Locke, Lenin, and Local Power: Claremont’s Test of Consent
Tag: Local Government
It Takes a School to Bankrupt a Village
By Emily Sandblade Last March, I ran for a seat on the Claremont School Board and lost. Nowadays, I’m thrilled that I did. Besides the relief of not sitting on the business side of the table at school board meetings and facing a large crowd of upset and fearful people, I can now engage in… Continue reading It Takes a School to Bankrupt a Village
Acworth Road Show: Pastries, Politics, and a Couple of Familiar Faces
The Michael and Judy Aron Memorial SCGOP Acworth MeetingTuesday, July 15, 2025 Tuesday marked the Sullivan County GOP’s second traveling “road show” meeting. Chairman Jon took our monthly gathering to the far southern reaches of the county—the gloriously pleasant and quintessentially New England setting of the Acworth Town Meeting Hall. Acworth Town Meeting Hall The… Continue reading Acworth Road Show: Pastries, Politics, and a Couple of Familiar Faces
The Sullivan County NH Republican Committee 