tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011655232093163642.post7921025594217754555..comments2024-01-14T06:16:50.475+13:00Comments on Cities Matter: The constitution of local governmentPhil McDermotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869744647213369964noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011655232093163642.post-13313778521252189772011-01-15T22:01:22.042+13:002011-01-15T22:01:22.042+13:00Owen: Very interesting. NZ could probably do well,...Owen: Very interesting. NZ could probably do well, breaking itself up into "Cantons". <br /><br />Maybe something for local districts to think about...if they're allowed to?Andrew D Atkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492591375757227409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011655232093163642.post-55647476554259916312011-01-14T15:56:50.786+13:002011-01-14T15:56:50.786+13:00Switzerland provides a useful model.
The communes ...Switzerland provides a useful model.<br />The communes (ave pop 2300) collect the income tax. They spend what they need to spend and pass on the surplus to the Cantons. (ave pop 130,000)<br />The Cantons spend what they need to spend and pass on the Leftovers to the Central Govt.<br /><br />Hard to imagine here.<br /><br />Also, if you want to migrate to Switzerland you apply to the Commune where you want to live and the Commune makes the decision.Owen McShanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10130002581563595646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011655232093163642.post-14501349455203492442011-01-13T09:21:56.211+13:002011-01-13T09:21:56.211+13:00Well, I for one think that for democracy to be eff...Well, I for one think that for democracy to be effective it needs to be primarily small-scale. Central governments should only do what they need to do, so in principle most political power should be localised to small units: most people just don't care enough when their vote is "one of a million". I agree that the power-dynamic should be looked at seriously, and finally addressed constitutionally.<br /><br />Another point is that the mainstream TV is most people's eye to the world, and its focus is obviously central-government heavy. In turn it reinforces the status quo. With the Internet, people should now be able to get their TV-fix on a more localised level, so this could assist a better 'cultural' focus into local politics for what could be, arguably, a stronger (and more real) democracy. Again I think this issue should definitely be looked at.Andrew D Atkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492591375757227409noreply@blogger.com