The burden is on defenders of states as operating entities to come up with reasons that those services cannot be privatized or handled nationally. Mark Schwartz Counties certainly have important jobs to do in my state. Implementing welfare reform is just one example. Technology should support, not supplant, government. Dr. Costis Toregas No.
Local governments are more than a database and a communications system.
They offer a sense of community, instill a foundation of democracy and engage residents in a positive and ongoing dialog about their daily lives. 1.Local governments insist on dictating terms for telecommunications access and fees. Clinton opposes Internet taxes, and the Internet Tax Freedom Bill is moving in Congress, yet the National League of Cities and other local organizations oppose a tax-free Internet. Gov. Weld of Massachusetts said counties have outlived their usefulness and can be replaced by e-mail, centralized state land records and other online databases. 4.Crime is on the decline across the nation.