4 ms·

I'm a firm believer that the most effective government is the closest government. This article takes the exact opposite stance. Imagine that to get a pothole r

I'm a firm believer that the most effective government is the closest government. This article takes the exact opposite stance. Imagine that to get a pothole repaired you had two choices: 1. petition town hall 5 miles from the pothole; 2. petition the state house 400 miles from the pothole. Which seems more practical? Ask people in eastern Oregon how confident they are in western Oregon's understanding of their needs. Ask people in southern Utah if they think politicians in northern Utah understand their issues. Ask anybody in Arizona outside of Phoenix whether Phoenix exists on the same planet as they do. In Sanbonmatsu, Nara prefecture it makes sense to require all trees to be cleared away from all buildings. In Yokohama, Kanagawa a rooftop park would be awesome. But there are parts of Sanbonmatsu where firebreaks aren't necessary. Why on earth should local officials have to ask somebody 500 km away for permission on that zoning? Are locals too stupid? Are people in Tokyo just that much brighter? In the U.S. this is very often used for political coersion. Collect taxes from all the far-flung peasants, then give them back money to hire school teachers only if certain conditions are met. Attach strings to all the federal money that came from local pockets to begin with. Need a new fire station? Don't look locally; get your senator to put in a little earmark for you to fund that from Washington, D.C. Just as long as your state agrees not to ban oil fracking. I want my graft and corruption to be local. Local corruption is always less expensive. It's not practical to demand national-scale bribes.

Ericson2314 6y ago
This is a common sentiment, but the evidence is with this article. Large scare ubanism and density are public goods, ando nnes that benefit more than the immediate area especially counting the fact that people can and do move. The alternative rather than fostering a cooperation of governance just fosters narrow self-interests and coordination failure. In the US, things like first past the post (FPTP) and the electoral college hamstring governance at all scales, but especially larger ones. And this culture of mediocrity kneecaps our imagination. Have a good proportional representation, and you'll quickly realize that there is more diversity of politics within than between today's constituencies. In simple terms, rather than bribe the Joe Manchins, we should make it cheap for everyone to move to the prosperous cities, and turn the depopulated hinterland into parks / tourism and agriculture.
- freeopinion 6y ago
  You have reinforced my belief that distant government is poor government. I have lived in some very big cities and enjoyed it. But I prefer the depopulated hinterland. I don't want "city slickers" with your contempt of rural areas making the rules for "agricultural" areas. Locals should make the rules. Surely you wouldn't want us hicks defining your city's ordinances. Tractors might always have the right-of-way and people should be mindful of neighbors when slaughtering pigs. You seem to make some utilitarian argument that massive cities are the best for everyone's greater good. A lot of people outside those cities point to the last twelve months as contra evidence. I think it could be a fun conversation to have when well researched. But I really lean towards letting locals govern local. (Note: leaning. I see arguments on both sides.)
  - Ericson2314 6y ago
    I don't have problems with rural areas, but I do take with people not owning up to the extent their lives are subsidized. If you want to be rural give up: - good postal service to every nook and cranny - more federal dollars per person than the average for roads, firefighting in the west, etc. - cheap gas By all means, go ahead and be masters of your own existence. Otherwise, accept that we will figure this out together and stop relying on crutches like the electoral college and senate.

Ericson2314 6y ago

This is a common sentiment, but the evidence is with this article. Large scare ubanism and density are public goods, ando nnes that benefit more than the immediate area especially counting the fact that people can and do move. The alternative rather than fostering a cooperation of governance just fosters narrow self-interests and coordination failure. In the US, things like first past the post (FPTP) and the electoral college hamstring governance at all scales, but especially larger ones. And this culture of mediocrity kneecaps our imagination. Have a good proportional representation, and you'll quickly realize that there is more diversity of politics within than between today's constituencies. In simple terms, rather than bribe the Joe Manchins, we should make it cheap for everyone to move to the prosperous cities, and turn the depopulated hinterland into parks / tourism and agriculture.

freeopinion 6y ago
You have reinforced my belief that distant government is poor government. I have lived in some very big cities and enjoyed it. But I prefer the depopulated hinterland. I don't want "city slickers" with your contempt of rural areas making the rules for "agricultural" areas. Locals should make the rules. Surely you wouldn't want us hicks defining your city's ordinances. Tractors might always have the right-of-way and people should be mindful of neighbors when slaughtering pigs. You seem to make some utilitarian argument that massive cities are the best for everyone's greater good. A lot of people outside those cities point to the last twelve months as contra evidence. I think it could be a fun conversation to have when well researched. But I really lean towards letting locals govern local. (Note: leaning. I see arguments on both sides.)
- Ericson2314 6y ago
  I don't have problems with rural areas, but I do take with people not owning up to the extent their lives are subsidized. If you want to be rural give up: - good postal service to every nook and cranny - more federal dollars per person than the average for roads, firefighting in the west, etc. - cheap gas By all means, go ahead and be masters of your own existence. Otherwise, accept that we will figure this out together and stop relying on crutches like the electoral college and senate.