Doug PollardAbolish the states
July 14th 2008 22:11
Who needs the states? Is federalism dead?
Opposition spokesperson Tony Abbott is calling for a constitutional amendment to allow the Commonwealth government to override state law at any time. Australian Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, has proposed abolishing the states altogether.
It seems like federalism is an idea whose time is almost over.
The federal system was invented for a time when you had to physically carry letters from one place to another across vast distances, with few roads, and those not too good, at the speed of a horse. You can't run a country efficiently if local officials have to wait months to get permission to do anything.
So it made sense to devolve government downward in a series of layers, with the Commonwealth in Canberra on top, and give each layer as much power and independence as possible.
But with modern communications, what was once a strength has become a weakness. Local government based on a city or county, plus a national government in Canberra is all you need for a population of only around 20 million in a country almost as big as the continental US.
The inefficiencies of federal systems are well known. Some services get duplicated, others fall between the cracks. Each layer tries to shift blame for any shortcomings to the other. The federal government mandates the states to take certain actions: the states refuse to provide the funding. It’s a mess.
On the other hand, while a centralized system is potentially more efficient, a decentralized system allows for greater diversity and is arguably more democratic.
And while city-to-city communication is good, we still don’t have a high-speed national broadband network linking everyone. As in America, there are still many poor and isolated communities with infrastructure – not just communications, but roads, sewerage, healthcare and policing – at no better than third-world levels.
Whatever the answer, the current system is expensive, over-manned, with lots of needless duplication and wastage, and too many opportunities for corruption. As a migrant from the UK more than 16 years ago, I still haven’t got used to the level of corruption which people here seem to find tolerable, if not exactly acceptable.
People are fed up with all this, yet fear a strong central government.And all the politicians and civil servants of this gravy train are not going to be persuaded to relinquish their perks easily.
Amending the constitution will be a protracted, messy and divisive business. But I think it needs to be tackled - and soon. And while we're about it, get rid of the monarchy and establish a republic, too!
| 74 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Proctor
Political Arbitrage System
I am not greatly familiar with the problems of Austrailia, but I believe The Problem with government in general is Mathematical. There is too many steps but like you said a dictator is easily corrupted and people become fearful of totalitarianism. I tried to invent a political engine that would always progress forward with all values except authoritarianism. I believe I have, but I would love to hear your take, I know it can be improved but can't find anyone interested in thinking it is possible.
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Janet
Comment by Doug Pollard
Rainbow Reporter
Comment by Proctor