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Leopold Kohr, the great decentralist economist, used to tell, about going to Lichtenstein and wanting to visit the Prime Minister of the country. He went to the
by natmaka 5y ago
Leopold Kohr, the great decentralist economist, used to tell, about going to Lichtenstein and wanting to visit the Prime Minister of the country. He went to the castle, rang the bell, and the man who answered the door and ushered him in, whom he assumed to be a servant, turned out to be the Prime Minister himself. And when they were seated in his office, chatting, the phone rang and the minister answered, saying, “Government.” You see? with a tiny country like that government is always there, always responsive, always able to answer the phone and take care of your problem.
Source: https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/an-overview-of-decentralism/ https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/an-overview-o...
"Whenever something is wrong, something is too big" -- L. Kohr
- goto11 5y ago> with a tiny country like that government is always there, always responsive, always able to answer the phone and take care of your problem. I doubt it. A government of a small country does not necessarily have more resources per citizen. But Lichtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, so the service level might be higher than the average country. If Lichtenstein is like the typical small town, then it very much depend on who you are, if the government is going to take care of your problems when you call.
- natmaka 5y agoA major benefit of a tiny social structure is that it just cannot be very oppressive AND keep its members. Unhappy? Just join a neighboring structure. This very option moderates local chiefs appetites. In the typical small town some local public servants chose to decide who they will take care of, and how, because they feel empowered by the huge central government. You cannot escape, they are your sole way towards your goal.