A gut instinct of NO!1
Do we have too much local government? Do you think there is a need to consolidate? Why?
Do we have too much local government? My instinctual answer is no. My instincts say, that the smaller the government the more effective it can be to improve the area it governs. However this instinct is based on no facts and or life definitive life experiences. What it is based on, is what I experienced as a child and what popular media has depicted. I examine what has formed my instincts, others instincts as well as research samples in order to draw a more decisive answer to the questions at hand: Do we have too much local government? Is there a need to consolidate?
Growing up in the United States my awareness of what was going on at a government level was only by active interest and inquiry, most of my peers would be unable to tell you a single issue that was under debate at city council. My daily life barley change despite major policy and government changes. The changes that I did experience were more as by products of fund allocation; longer school years, new roads, closed pubic pools and so forth. I developed a fondness for local government because I saw them, speaking at my school and handing out candy at parades. They were successful people who were real, and while out of my reach it was not too far out. Popular TV shows encouraged this fondness portraying city hall meetings as lively and fun.(“Gilmore Girls”, 2010).
My instincts match the feelings of many other Americans. In a 2010 poll Forty-three percent of U.S. voters rated the performance of their local government as tops compared to the state and federal level(Rasmussen Reports LLC , 2010, Sec 1). Public opinion while fickle reflects the world. The world has been embracing the concept of local government since before per-colonization (“Alderfer” P.16). Today’s world is re developing democratic local governments, while simultaneously countries are increasing the power of their pre-existing local governments. Scholars are in agreement, there are numerous reasons to develop and expand local governments.
Nations need local government. The primary reason is that local governments serve as a way to divide power by area or territory. Local governments can help resolve communication and service dilemmas in a largely hilly and mountainous country, that face by poor communications and transport infrastructure(United Nations Capitol Development Fund. 2003), as well as giving access to the national government. Secondly local governments are established to promote liberality, equity, and welfare services. Some scholars have suggested the idea that local government created regional identity, (Choi,Lee. Aug 2006) that complements the concept of liberality. Nations also see local governments as a vehicle for local democracy (Ilago. 2010). According to Western liberal tradition, local governments promote democracy in many ways. Including:
- bringing government closer to citizens
- people participate more effectively in local affairs
- leaders can be held accountable for decisions
- experience in the practice of democracy.
- opportunity for previously marginalized groups to enter politics
- attention to local concerns.
- Decisions, tailored to local needs
- Efficiency ( US Aid. 2000)
Often we find that local governments have the ability to complete projects and tasks at a much lower costs than national governments. In Nepal it was found that governments were effective in creating water supply and small-scale irrigation investments in a well managed manner (United Nations Capitol Development Fund 2003). This is linked to the traditional expertise that local governments posses as well as to their ability to effectively utilize community based planning(United Nations Capitol Development Fund 2003).
Local governments are not all positive. There are many problems that give strength to the argument for consolidation. One prevalent issues surrounding small local governments is an inability to complete tasks. In the case of Nepal it was found that “roads and transport infrastructure have proved problematic areas for local governments, the capacity of local governments to plan, implement, operate and maintain them is limited”.(United Nations Capitol Development Fund 2003). This issue is closely related to the issues relating to financing. On one side it is common to find local governments with insufficient financial resources at all levels causing considerable dependence on central government transfers and in some situations eliminating incentives for improved revenue efforts (United Nations Capitol Development Fund 2003). Additionally this insufficiency comes from the fact that many local governments are too small to benefit from economies of scale. Giving rise to the argument that a consolidated government allow for simplification. Recent studies in Korea also suggest that consolidation also benefits local economic development and the comprehensive planning of land use(Choi,Lee. Aug 2006). On another side local governments can threaten national integrity when financial oversight is weak, it can lead to increased corruption(US Aid 2000) since you find those who wish to control local government. The control of local government is frequently found paired with control of all aspects public life by the local elites(United Nations Capitol Development Fund 2003).
At the other side of the spectrum local governments cannot be overly independent, to be so would create a nation within a nation (Villanueva, P.493). As a global community each nation will be confronted with a variety of these positive and negative factors of local government. If we have too many local governments and need to consolidate or is we lack enough can only be accurately assessed based on the objectives of the national government in relation to local governments(Alderfer 1964).
In the end, I would like to keep my childhood perception of local government with a few changes. It is still a place of successful people who have lively meetings. Local government it is part of civilization and it comes with many challenges as well as the potential for numerous rewards, possibility even more candy at the parades.
Bibliography
Alderfer, H. Local Government in Developing Countries. 1964. New York: MacMillan
Choi, Young-Chool,. & Lee, Sang-Yeup. Estimating the Costs and Benefits of Local Government Reorganisation: A case of Korea. Aug 2006. Reviewed 29 June 2010. http://ideas.repec.org/p/wiw/wiwrsa/ersa06p206.html
Gilmore Girls. 27 June 2010. Reviewed 27 June 2010 From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilmore_Girls
Ilago, Simeon A. “Overview of local government; structure; system”. PA 251. UP Diliman. 28 June 2010
Rasmussen reports LLC. 43% Say Local Government Better Than Feds, States. 16 Feb 2010, Reviewed 20 June 2010. From http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2010/43_say_local_government_better_than_feds_states
United Nations Capitol Development Fund. Local Government Infrastructure and Service Delivery A Case Study of the Decentralized Financing & Development Program – Nepal. 6 November 2003. Reviewed 23 June 2010. From http://www.uncdf.org/english/local_development/uploads/thematic/adb/UNCDF_Nepal.pdf
US Aid. Decentralization and Democratic Local Governance Programming Handbook. May 2000 Reviewed 22 June 2010. From http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/democracy_and_governance/publications/pdfs/pnach300.pdf
Villanueva, A. Elite Choices and Constitutional Guarantees of Local Autonomy in the Third World: The Case of the Philippines. 1980. 1971-73. Modern Asian Studies. Vol 14, No 3. p 469-499
1Written 1st semester 2010 NCPAG PA 251 under Professor Ilago
No comments:
Post a Comment