Question - Governments, State, City, County.. etc

[aidan80 9]

I suppose my question is as an immigrant and a government worker.. why so many different Governments here in the US? I mean.. Federal.. ok, State.. ok.. and local.. City, County and everything else? I mean is it just me or is it a mess at local level and State, I don't want to talk about Federal just yet, I don't want a sore head just the bare essentials.

Back home we have the government.. ok.. they control the police, fire, health, education.. etc all the big stuff.. local level deals with other issues, local issues and things appeared at least to me to run fairly well and it wasn't too confusing. Over here (in Florida) you need to call a couple of different offices to see what police force covers your property, city cops, county sheriff.. it's the same for fire, ambulances and mostly everything else is privatized.

Wouldn't be easier if the state took control of police, fire, ambulance, health care (where available), education etc and maybe created towns with districts (ditching counties all together) or even just allowing the counties to govern each county with the exception of the larger cities. I'm in Florida so it could very well be different else where if it is in what way?

To me at least it seems (in Florida at least) government is very top heavy, a lot of our tax $$$ is wasted on replicated jobs, laws, policies.. etc over and over again. Would it be a good idea to streamline it a bit and make it work harder? I could be missing something here I mean I've only been in the country since 05?

[Niels Bohr 72]

It's management 101. Having multiple government or jurisdiction is a way to enforce a system of checks and balances making it equal for everyone to have a chance at expressing their voice. And, it's a way to control organization.

[aidan80 9]

It's management 101. Having multiple government or jurisdiction is a way to enforce a system of checks and balances making it equal for everyone to have a chance at expressing their voice. And, it's a way to control organization.

It's too much don't you think? I'll all for democracy, checks and balances but it's over done isn't it?

I mean what about when cities, counties are all fighting amongst themselves over stupid things like boundaries, money and taxes? My point is that is isn't very organized, it's every man so to speak for themselves? I mean city cops stay in the cities, county cops in the county, state cops go where needed? It's insane!.. They have some agreements but it's the same jobs being done over and over and over! Why not just state cops, state fire, ambulance, health, education.. run it all from the top down. Quickly efficiently and get rid of all the fighting over the scraps at the bottom. Tear out an entire layer of the mess and reorganize the remainder.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Yes. I see what you mean. It's really redundant sometimes.

[aidan80 9]

Yes. I see what you mean. It's really redundant sometimes.

Exactly.. I mean, we're all paying for this over and over again time and again! It'd be nice it was more to the point and better value for what we're paying for.

[Heracles 417]

I suppose my question is as an immigrant and a government worker.. why so many different Governments here in the US? I mean.. Federal.. ok, State.. ok.. and local.. City, County and everything else? I mean is it just me or is it a mess at local level and State, I don't want to talk about Federal just yet, I don't want a sore head just the bare essentials.

Back home we have the government.. ok.. they control the police, fire, health, education.. etc all the big stuff.. local level deals with other issues, local issues and things appeared at least to me to run fairly well and it wasn't too confusing. Over here (in Florida) you need to call a couple of different offices to see what police force covers your property, city cops, county sheriff.. it's the same for fire, ambulances and mostly everything else is privatized.

Wouldn't be easier if the state took control of police, fire, ambulance, health care (where available), education etc and maybe created towns with districts (ditching counties all together) or even just allowing the counties to govern each county with the exception of the larger cities. I'm in Florida so it could very well be different else where if it is in what way?

To me at least it seems (in Florida at least) government is very top heavy, a lot of our tax $$$ is wasted on replicated jobs, laws, policies.. etc over and over again. Would it be a good idea to streamline it a bit and make it work harder? I could be missing something here I mean I've only been in the country since 05?

I noticed that a few years back. The government agencies / system is run like it's 1920 or something. There is just so much wastage when it comes to every county having to run their own services etc. An extremely inefficient system which comes at the expense of the people here.

People pay their fair share of taxes here but get little in return; in comparison to what I got back in AUS. For example, our streets are cleaned weekly. They all have side walks, nature strips, are actually lighted and I mean everywhere. The police are better equipped because they are funded and run on a state level. They have universal healthcare. The schools are newer and cleaner. Teachers are better paid etc. I would say a few billion is wasted on education alone in the US simply because of the doubling up of bureaucrats. Money the system desperately needs considering the test scores of kids here.

Edited August 1, 2008 by Aficionado

[aidan80 9]

I noticed that a few years back. The government agencies / system is run like it's 1920 or something. There is just so much wastage when it comes to every county having to run their own services etc. An extremely inefficient system which comes at the expense of the people here.

People pay their fair share of taxes here but get little in return; in comparison to what I got back in AUS. For example, our streets are cleaned weekly. They all have side walks, nature strips, are actually lighted and I mean everywhere. The police are better equipped because they are funded and run on a state level. They have universal healthcare. The schools are newer and cleaner. Teachers are better paid etc. I would say a few billion is wasted on education alone in the US simply because of the doubling up of bureaucrats. Money the system desperately needs considering the test scores of kids here.

Exactly what I'm saying.. I mean I know it isn't just me that finds things here doubled up time and time again. It feels like such a massive waste of money over here and it appears to be just accepted? I don't understand it at all...

It was mostly the same back home.. one education system, one police force, ambulance.. etc Essential service weren't paid for more than once and for the most part these services where never leased out to the private sector to make a profit from. Like you said.. same back home, the streets where cleaned (they are here too, spotless) all the time the rubbish always collected and of course footpaths (sidewalks) everywhere.. but it didn't cost us as much as it does here?

Don't anyone get me wrong I'm not trying to say things are so terrible here I'm just saying there's waste and it should end, we're all paying for it over and over again. If we have to pay this much for what we get we should get better!.. An example is.. where I live people pay a tax, a fee for the emergency services.. and guess what happens if you dial 911 and ask for an ambulance.. after your trip to the local hospital (which you do expect to pay for) they (the ambulance service) send you a bill!.. it's insanity!

I wonder if there's any states out there that run a cleaner more streamlined system from top down instead of from the inside out!

Edited August 5, 2008 by aidan80