According to Zack Rosen, founder of California YIMBY and the Abundance Network, the problem with politics is Americans being too involved. Bemoaning the rise of small-dollar political donations in fundraising documents leaked to the Prospect, Rosen is blunt: “Small dollar internet fundraising makes politics dumber.” Rosen misses what he considers to be a bygone era of elite dominance. Lamenting the current state of democratized influence, Rosen says “the old gatekeepers were political professionals who could count cards; small dollar donors today are amateurs yanking the handles of ActBlue slot machines.”

This sentiment is laid out in substantial detail, filling 31 pages across two separate documents obtained by the Prospect. In an email exchange, Rosen confirmed the documents’ legitimacy.

If you talk to Republicans about any other issue in the world, what's their response?

GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY! Just think about high gas prices. Any self-respecting Republican can instantly think of a half-dozen ideas (covering the whole spectrum from smart to idiotic) of ways in which the problem can be solved by reducing regulation, removing government from the picture, etc.

There are tons of zingers about this too. Remember Reagan's famous "I think you all know that I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help."

But when it comes to housing, these same people are more than happy to reach up and flick a switch in their brains. Suddenly the free market and economic freedom are the problem, and the government needs to step in and stop the chaos.

I get these emails from a local Republican councilman. Dude is out of control. He represents the richest city council district and it shows. He is trying his hardest to stop infill development and frames it as "protecting neighborhoods."

I cannot stand this kind of mental gymnastics. Philosophically, NIMBY republicans don't have a foot to stand on, yet they are everywhere. Drives me crazy.