TED Conversations  This conversation is closed. Start a new
conversation or join one »  The pitfalls of local government--is
it this bad all over the world?  I'll start off by being frank.
The local government in my country is an absolute joke; the
entire system is a semi-functional, corrupt and debt ridden
mess, and I'm wondering, is there something in the local system
or culture ruining things, or is this a more global issue?
Unlike the national elections, where people tend to have at
least a passable grasp of the people involved and issues at
hand, the local elections go by the public with complete apathy.
Local newspapers are relic of the past, and the more centralized
modern media (mostly television and internet) simply aren't
interested in every day local matters (for no fault of their
own). Therefore, your average citizen hasn't a clue who's doing
what in city hall, has no real knowledge of the candidates past
their names (and sometimes not even that), and is accordingly
apathetic. Its hard to keep u