The forces that shape our lives may seem faceless and distant. Economic and governmental decisions with significant implications are made by people in offices and boardrooms hundreds and even thousands of miles away. Sometimes these decisions happen with little or no input from the public, although we know and understand our local issues better than any far-removed bureaucrat.
We’re beholden to labyrinthine networks of influence in big government and big business that—at times—respect issues at the local level with the sensitivity and nuance of a bulldozer. Certainly, this centralization has its benefits. Sometimes it’s indispensable. But it can come at a cost.
