Yea no geo representation would be insane. Think mass policy being decided by arizona

Fair.

Germany right?

That is what is happening, the majority of the people are in like 4 cities in 2 provinces, every other province barely has a voice in the critical mass.

Netherlands

Ah

Germany is similar, but iirc the people identify regionally far more than nationally

Its almost as if regional govs have more power than the fed internally

Yes, germany is more like the US in that the Bundes (states) have some form of self government that is actually visible in politics.

Your entire country is only 3 times larger than my immediate local region

In the netherlands tehre are secretaries and some staff on province level, but those are appointed by the King, just like Majors are. \

Yeah, but its not less complicated due to it being smaller haha

I'm frustrated enough as it is by not having local representation in my county, for the immediate couple square mile area where I live lol

Well to be honest. Few European countries hold a candle to even our middle sized states

True

Thats a bit extreme

Because all of those 'representatives' are paid, ergo. a representative every couple square miles would be excessively expensive

They don't have to be paid

No one would devote the needed time without pay

Because then they would have jobs as well

My county is 650 sq miles, and they want to put an apartment complex near my house. we have to appeal to a 'council' who will take our opinions into consideration

And? If someone on the other side had the same situation, the same thing would be done. The only exception is cities, but you still simply appeal to the council of the area

Who are generally voted in by the whole area

or districtly

Most of them live on the other side of town, and have no clue what our area is like because they have no reason to come over here

But they are voted in by the county correct?

Not really, sort of

If the seats ever appear on the ballet, and they can be recalled, then they are elected. There isn't a 'sort of'.

Weither they run opposed or not, are ever recalled, or the variation of term limits, is another story.

Yeah, I looked it up. There's 5 seats that get voted on, and everything downstream of that is appointees. Anywho...

In the netherlands decicions like zoning and permits are just government jobs, the politics never touch it unless its to change a local law, none of those positions are voted for. I wish there was accounability for these small time local power mongers with their arcane minutia.

I guess voting on every position is a bit too extreme as well, you would be at the voting booth every day and get no work done hehe

That's why you make everything as local as possible, that way only the people effected in that small area need to discuss and vote on the matter

Start a Petition.

If anything there has been a trend in making things bigger over here, smaller ciies merging with bigger ones .. you know .. for saving some money

Get enough signatures and it has to go on the ballet

Referendums were outlawed I believe lmao

Referendums are kill now, they removed it like a couple of months ago, there was litteraly 0 referendums that went into the favor of the government so they just nixxed it. Not like they were held to the outcome anyway, they alwasy were more like polls to see 'how do you feel'.

Here referendums are still strong

Hell in my county/city alone 5 or 6 tax referendums were cut down

Yeah, it's in the state constitution that it has to appear on the ballot if there's enough signatures