I agree with what I think is one of your premises: Centralization looks expedient and decisive. But it is biased by nature towards the powerful elements. Centralized governance reflects a centralization of power and subsequently centralized wealth accumulation and further centralized influence.
I recently wrote a post describing how the disaster relief efforts led by the community on Maui, to help the residents of Lahaina, whose city burned down, were initially highly decentralized and distributed, thus they provided food, clothing and first aide island wide, as the population of the burned down town distributed themselves widely to find shelter for their families.
However when the government agency FEMA and nongovernment agency the Red Cross, showed up on day 4, the first things they did were centralization of supplies, money, and control. This reduced benefits to the scattered populatoion of Lahaina, who were homeless, and lacking transportation, and documentation of their previous residence. In addition, the centralized powers required the relief vistims to travel back to ground zero, which is traumatic.
The centralization of relief and the need for proper documentation was and is counter productiove when the populous is without wallets, cellphones, computers, and transportation, as many vehicles burned up in the overnight fire. Plus the victims lost their wallets, cellphoones and computers, in addition to their homes and loved ones.
These centralized systems succeeded in imposing control and being decisive. They failed in delivering relief supplies, food and healthcare because they refused to distribute it, because that meant losing control and control appears to be priority number one.
Right now there is a growing public discontent, and I fear when they 1000 unaccounted for which everyone thinks are children and elderly who were trapped in their homes are revealed a protest will eruptr and possibly violence. These centralized agencies may find themselves very unwelcome and be forced to leave.
It's quite the disaster after the disaster.
I am sorry I am late commenting on this and I can't add much, other than it is a good highlight of why governments are inefficient. They can effectively do their job as defined by them, even if it doesn't help the people they are meant to be helping.
No problem, it is amazing how much engagement you get on your posts, and more amazing that you take the time to reply. I also appreciate the timing of your post, which highlighted what I was feeling. And your last sentence said it very well: governments do their main job well, but their main job is not helping people, it is establishing control, through centralization.
Thank you