The theater-goer on the other hands sits out front and sees only the illusions presented on the stage. Those in the audience receive a good show but probably don't think of all of the activities behind the scenes that make it happen.
That's how our City Government works. Most residents don't see all of the activities going on behind the scenes. They just go on living and using the resources provided and as long as nothing wrong happens, like Spiderman falling from his webbing or a stagehand being caught on stage when the curtain opens, the illusions are preserved.
But if during the intermission someone with an ax to grind against the show or the theater management starts telling the audience that the stagehands are overpaid and the Stage Manager, Costume Designer, and Lighting Director are each getting 20% of your ticket price, that seems like a lot to pay for people you can't see and don't know what they do.
Another show down the street in the same size theater charges half as much for tickets. Of course you don't want to see that show because it's not very good, but you shouldn't have to pay more for tickets to a better show just because they pay stagehands and managers so much.
You were invited backstage at the theater to see what goes on, but you didn't want to destroy your illusions or get to know any of those overpaid stagehands or managers because then you might be too close to them and think it is OK to take so much of your ticket price. So you would rather keep your limited point of view from out front than to find out anything about who is doing what behind the scenes.
OK this is a rather simplistic view, and I know I shall be criticized for being condescending, but I'm an educator and we often use simple analogies to present more complicated subjects when learners need help.
Many residents in our city need help understanding what staff does. They are being misled by political interests into believing the Wizard behind the curtain isn't worth respect because he's doing his magic with an electronic board and projection equipment and not real wizardry. Yet it takes a lot of talent, education, and skill to design and operate the control panel. It takes a lot of behind the scenes effort by highly skilled people to keep everything running smoothly without anyone noticing the work that goes into it.
I've recommended the Government 101 class in my blog and messages several times, but residents who prefer to remain ignorant or not get too close to people doing the work, or fearful that they will be "brainwashed," when they already have been, don't want to go. They don't want to learn anything that might change their point of view. So they will continue to see the illusions and not the realities.
I shall continue to report what is happening behind the scenes, and I shall continue to be criticized as "an insider," because you cannot know what it takes to run the show without changing your point of view.
