Oh it’s happening quite fast. My very small rural home town was already dwindling when I graduated 15 years ago. Now sports teams in the area are having to consolidate with neighboring towns and consolidating entire districts is in talks.

Great idea, now how do we do that? Cities gentrify and force people into towns and rural areas. Where do these people get to live, the unincorporated wilderness?

The only real answer I have to that question is that leftists need to move to rural areas and help slowly change its political landscape. Or you know, let the elected official govern. Still, I don't have an answer for this exact scenario. The ultimate problem is who (who have the power to do anything in that exact area) cares? We do, but we aren't there and I am out of ideas.