Global Q&A: ‘Which is better: Bigger, regional governments or smaller, more localized governments?’

Jordan Lancaster, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A.

Localized governments providing easier contact, more immediate solutions, although at times lacking power, compared to larger governments, was the consensus opinion when Epoch Times reporters from Manhattan to Ibagué asked locals: “Which do you think is better: Bigger, regional governments or smaller, more localized governments?”

Manhattan, New York, U.S.A. Jordan Lancaster, 27, Attorney I like things the way they are. The city has enough control. They seem to pass a lot of laws—[for example] on smoking, what rules restaurants have to follow. [As far as bigger governments go, like the UN], it seems difficult to have international law. I’m not saying the U.N. shouldn’t exist, but it’s more difficult on that scale.

Paris, France Laetitia Braconnier, 20, University Student By being a citizen of a centralized country, allows me to consider that a centralized government is the best option. What I do know, for example, it’s that many students that come from other departments consider that living in the capital has many advantages and that’s why they are happy to live here. A decentralized government would allow greater proximity between citizens and their representatives, but that’s at the same time a paradox, because the last local (canton) elections have shown that the population is not interested in these local issues, and they address their political interests mainly at a national level.

Romania, Falticeni Elena Deleanu, 40, History Teacher Smaller, more localized governments as they have bigger autonomy, bigger decision-making powers, and they solve problems more rapidly.

Lima, Peru Angela Ganoza, 57, Housewife I think it is better with several small governments, because when we decentralize them the organization is better, solutions to problems in each government would be given faster, and each one would take over their own affairs. And, therefore, there would be further development for these governments.

Wellington, New Zealand Mohit “Lucky” Sharma, 23, Restaurant Owner I think the bigger region is for all over New Zealand, but you have to look after the small region as well. The small one is good. You should start from the basics when you are helping people with their problems. Local ones, if you take Newtown [Suburb of Wellington] there have been issues of people drinking in the street so they have seminars where people can raise questions regarding this issue, but we haven’t seen any results because they do not have the power.

Sunshine Coast, Australia Frank Bonnici, 75, Retired Ministerial Driver I’d rather have small governments instead of bigger ones. With small governments you can get in touch with them, and talk with them, but when they’re in Canberra it is really hard. But I think we still have too many governments, [town and city] councils, state, and federal and no one knows what the other is doing. Note: Australia has six states, two territories plus hundreds of local councils. Canberra is the Australian Capital Territory—national capital housing federal Parliament.

Ibagué, Colombia Xiomara Katherine Pimentel, 13, Student I think smaller governments are better because they are more organized. Each government would be able to find a solution for the problem of their own region easier.

Bratislava, Slovakia Roman Balogh, 19, Management Student Today, the bigger regional governments are a better solution because it is easier to follow the desired outcome. But one of the most important assets of the centralized management is the reduction of personnel costs, as well as more effective use of the human resources, which I consider an important feature in today’s trend towards the slimming down of the state administration. However, it is necessary to avoid the unwanted increase of the bureaucracy, and keep the dynamics of the decision processes.

Vallgorguina, Spain Roselina de Tera, 62, Economist As a European I know my surroundings, I think for this society a decentralized government is best. Local governments are closer to the people and have a better understanding of their problems and necessities. But I do not know if this could apply to other nations and cultures. This is why I think that the Western model should not be imposed anywhere. Puerto Montt, Chile Pablo Cristobal Hernandez Vidal, 27, Olidata Promoter I think that big government is better. It would be more serious and would follow a single line, being more coherent and following a hierarchical order. On the contrary, many small governments are focused and would lend themselves to a difficult consensus, forming many currents of discrepancies, making it more difficult to unify criteria; therefore they would be closer to a chaos. That is my view. Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Which do you think is better: Bigger, regional governments or smaller, more localized governments?”