More Equal Animals: Coupling & Encapsulation - Chapter 4 (Unofficial Summary)

More Equal Animals: Coupling & Encapsulation - Chapter 4 (Unofficial Summary)

It is important to respect the chain of command in a democracy. The federal government should not tax people directly, but tax the states who then would tax counties and so on and so forth. Otherwise it would undermine the autonomy of states and counties.

Case Study - Virginia Gun Rights

In Virginia, despite 96% of the 85 counties creating resolutions against gun control, the Democratic-run state can still implement gun control laws. ‘If Virginia were a democracy of counties then the result would be vastly different.’

Global Majority Rules?

The majority ruling should also not mean 51% controlling the 49% otherwise it would be no different than the law of the jungle and allowing 51% to kill off the 49% minority and the same as allowing the ‘1% to kill the 99% if they had the power to do so.’

Lessons from Software Engineering

Like computer software, governments should be modular ‘(geographic grouping)’ and encapsulated with clear dependencies and have ‘low coupling (separation of powers)’.