And large part of the population seems all too willing to just follow these local officials and blindly believe anything they say. And those who dare to challenge them get insulted.
If you want to act in an anti-social manner, don’t be surprised when you are socially ostracized.
What is "anti social" about defending human rights against those who think they stand above them?
In other words: go against the grain and you’ll be down voted to oblivion.
Unfortunately and sadly, widely differing opinions are not tolerated too much on HN.