Part 3/7:
What struck him further was the pervasive apathy he witnessed. It seemed that the inhabitants of this affluent city chose to ignore the despair surrounding them. Conversations with locals highlighted a dissonance; many recognized the issues but often diverted to blaming politicians or discussing Trump. He was perplexed—San Francisco had been under Democratic leadership for decades, so how could it be the fault of a Republican president? It became evident that a disconnect existed between the policies voted for and their real-life consequences.