That is, the negative emotions of anxiety about change and anger at those held responsible must be balanced with the positive emotions of enthusiasm for potential solutions and hope for a stronger community. Negative emotions were the result of subtle, yet ultimately cascading land-use change in which first one farm and then another is replaced by subdivisions. Two distinct forms of response emerged. The second was anger. Citizens blamed vague entities, which served as scapegoats for lost open space while also taking on near-invincible qualities.
Government is powerless to protect the community from development.
To change perceptions of government being part of the problem or ineffectual, public officials need to work with the public, not just by providing information about results and findings, but by bringing citizens into the decision-making process. Efforts should focus on increasing public input and making the governing system as participatory as possible. By making citizens part of the solution, governments can build enthusiasm for public policies and nurture hope for stronger communities. Second, because governance is a highly symbolic activity, especially when it comes to public perceptions, local governments would benefit from emphasizing how they implement public policies. This is especially important when public input is part of those policies.