The greater the concentration of power, the more likely it is that it will be used for personal gain. And the less likely it is more meaningful competition and choice to exist.
This can only happen when people don't have a choice. If a government is bad, people should have a way to remove their property from its domain.
Cities and towns should be able to become part of a neighboring state or start their own. The Swiss have this ability and can change cantons and create new ones. Its rarely used, but its always there if needed.
And if the people had to approve many actions of the national legislature (again, as they do in Switzerland), ridiculous actions are less likely.
Of course, results are what matter and Switzerland has the highest incomes in the world and the least involvement in stupid wars. It must have something to do with the difficulty in spending other people's blood and money without their approval.
Sounds like a recipe for white flight. Switzerland was also among the last industrialized nations to allow women the vote (1970!). Provincialism is not a panacea and government isn't the only place where power can be concentrated.
On the other hand, my idealistic version of political reform is so far from reality, I won't even bother you with it here.
Government isn't the only place power can be concentrated to be sure. But it is the only place where power is concentrated using coercion.
Everywhere else, some value must be delivered in exchange and there are competing choices. For example, the media has a lot of power but also a lot of competition. And the more technology and choice we have in general creates even more competition.
Your version of reform may not be reality, but nothing is until discussed.
What makes you think that other groups wouldn't be the first to fly?
I mean, think about it: Would you secede from a city that used your own tax dollars to humiliate you on buses and at water fountains and lunch counters? And then beat you in the head when you object?
This can only happen when people don't have a choice. If a government is bad, people should have a way to remove their property from its domain.
Cities and towns should be able to become part of a neighboring state or start their own. The Swiss have this ability and can change cantons and create new ones. Its rarely used, but its always there if needed.
And if the people had to approve many actions of the national legislature (again, as they do in Switzerland), ridiculous actions are less likely.
Of course, results are what matter and Switzerland has the highest incomes in the world and the least involvement in stupid wars. It must have something to do with the difficulty in spending other people's blood and money without their approval.