I have a theory in the age of machine learning analytics the “competition for attention” has built critical mass at flash point contentious emotionalism. Here in Texas we put $600 million of Covid relief money in a fund run by a state employee to address gaps in rural broadband. We started a petition asking the new agency to include our county in discussions and feedback as to prioritization and distribution (tell us why, how and where the money was going). No one has an issue with the petition. No one thinks we will know why, how or where the money will go if we don’t ask. And, just getting local attention to a meaningful but non-contentious issue has been tediously slow. Are we addicted to the hits of amped up hyperbole contention? If so, it might be at the expense of good civics.