Quote:
Originally Posted by pure_mercury
Also, my local government doesn't have an income tax, nor does it start wars nor does it have a Supreme Court interpreting the U.S. Constitution. The federal government is so large and activist nowadays that it makes the guy down the street who fixes parking tickets and schedules the trash pickup seem not so important. Also, local government is heinously corrupt in a lot of areas. That has to alienate people.
|
But you have state tax, and if you live in a city then you may also have city tax. Those taxes affect the quality of local school districts. You have local roads that need to be maintained, local business (mom and pop vs. Walmart). The feds aren't going to get a grocery store in my neighborhood so I don't have to drive 20 miles to the nearest one. The feds aren't going to make sure my city or county has smoking bans or living wages, attend to local housing violations, nor do I call the FBI when my house is robbed. These things (and lots more) are all under the city, county, and state governments.
Corruption in local governments seems like even more reason them to be heavily scrutinize. Corruption at the national level doesn't deter people from anything so why should it at the local level?
By no means do I think local politics are more important that national, but people seem very ignorant of what's happening within a 50 mile radius of their home. And don't most of our national politicians start as local politicians? If they're corrupt when they're on the city council do you think they're going to suddenly have a change of heart when they're senator or vice president?