The presumption is that this area deserves to have less autonomy. Perhaps the author should consider the reverse: the rest of the country deserves more autonom

The presumption is that this area deserves to have less autonomy. Perhaps the author should consider the reverse: the rest of the country deserves more autonomy. If you are so concerned for the city's special privileges, perhaps you should vote (ha!) for the same privileges to be applied to yourself. Instead, predictably, the author wants the states power to expand ever further.