There is, at the moment, in South Africa, a major inquiry into "state capture", which is a situation where the state is commandeered by private interests. It is a very good idea, the inquiry. It reveals the dynamics of the whole thing, and is a great education for the nation -- apart from what may yet be set right. OBSERVATION: But there ought to be, I think, something similar at a local level. Often, local government machinery is not accountable to the public -- nor are many institutions. People suffer much on account of this. I speak from experience. Local commissions of inquiry would restore a sense of accountability, reveal the clever tricks that nullify it -- and bring change. What happens on the local level has much in common with state capture. Just one example is Regulatory Capture.
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