Dave Lowe, a lifelong conservative Republican from Texas, just discovered politics exists because a data center is coming to his backyard. "This is the first time in my adult life where there's been an issue that's come up that I feel like is going to directly impact me." The entire country could collapse as long as his property value held steady. Now that it affects him personally, suddenly there's an issue. This is what happens when a population treats civic life as optional until the problem shows up at their address.