It was super obvious, which is why elections occurred in even more hyper-connected settings. Election day meant drinking in the pub with your fellow landowners. If you were going to vote for bullshit, you had to stand up in front of your neighbors to do it.
There’s no reason why people can’t get along and agree on how things in their area should work. Under social contract theory, the whole point of the government by the people is to figure out how to get along with each other.
The Progressive Era began a hundred years later when we adopted the secret ballot. The system is perfect for capture by middle-class social reformers and muckrakers.
You’re right, I think this setup is showing its age. I literally never have to interact with or care about people living in the local countryside. The choice we face is do we try to reconcile with our neighbors or do we abandon social contract-driven government and use power centers to prop up a technocracy? Either could work.
There’s no reason why people can’t get along and agree on how things in their area should work. Under social contract theory, the whole point of the government by the people is to figure out how to get along with each other.
The Progressive Era began a hundred years later when we adopted the secret ballot. The system is perfect for capture by middle-class social reformers and muckrakers.
You’re right, I think this setup is showing its age. I literally never have to interact with or care about people living in the local countryside. The choice we face is do we try to reconcile with our neighbors or do we abandon social contract-driven government and use power centers to prop up a technocracy? Either could work.