It’s tempting to think of democracy’s fragility only in terms of presidential elections, Supreme Court rulings, or congressional paralysis. But democracy doesn’t falter only on the national stage.
Its erosion begins in smaller, less visible places — in school boards, utility districts, and city councils — where citizens assume politics remains practical and nonpartisan, consensus-driven, and immune to the toxic currents of Washington.
That assumption, as Arizona and other states are learning, is dangerously naïve.
What we’re witnessing is part of a systematic pattern of authoritarian consolidation. What appear to be isolated skirmishes in small towns and counties are, in fact, part of a coordinated campaign to erode inclusive governance, dismantle professional administration, and weaponize local power against pluralism.
Read the entire commentary on Substack In The Center Lane With Herb Paine →
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Commentator Herb Paine examines a crucial but under-explored dimension of the current moment: How the Jewish community responds ethically when Jewish continuity intersects with political power in Israel. -
One piece of Arizona's property politics puzzle involves middle housing (sometimes referred to as missing middle housing to highlight the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings). Commentator Herb Paine examines the concept and its practical implications. -
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Commentator Herb Paine reflects on what’s truly at stake in Arizona’s 2026 elections — not just who wins, but whether the system that makes winning possible can endure. The elections may be a bellwether for the nation: a test of civic trust, political integrity, and the resilience of democracy in an age of disruption and division. -
With decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, commentator Herb Paine critiques the sector’s reliance on outdated education models and calls for a radical redesign of how we learn, lead and drive change to meet today’s challenges.
