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e27002 aurora

On Fri, 28 Aug 2015 16:18:14 -0500,
wrote:

In article ,
(e27002 aurora) wrote:

On Fri, 28 Aug 2015 08:02:07 +0100 (GMT+01:00), tolly57
wrote:

-- No not the country, London fares for children. Article on BBC
London news 6.30 p/m yesterday highlighted the cost of fares for
children across the capital. Because TFL run more services north
of the river children up to age 11 can travel free whereas in the
south, national rail charge over fives. About time the mayor got
control of services within the M25.

Or, have HMG return "London South of the Thames" to Kent and Surrey.
There are enough issues North of the River to resolve.

Oi! Watch it you! I was born and brought up in that part of LONDON. It's
been part of the capital since at least 1854.

Neither of us are being geographically very specific. So, let's
review. Prior to 1965 the boroughs of Bromley and Bexley were in
Kent. At that point, without resource to a plebiscite, these were
annexed to the newly formed GLC.

At that time the "inner" boroughs Greenwich, Woolwich et al were in
the London County Council area. The LCC was formed in 1889 and
encompassed those hitherto parts of Kent. Prior to 1889 Middlesex
existed only North of the Thames.

There was however the unelected, and unpopular, Metropolitan Board of
Works. It carried out certain functions in the London Census Area.
Perhaps that is the London to which you refer?

Review over, unless you have something to add. Let's deduce.

The present GLA is an overweening structure that, like its predecessor
will fail. Its costs will rise, its employees will become complacent.
It will be a proxy political battle ground for national issues, and
tend towards corruption. Would that this were not so, but it is.
Power begets power.

Unfortunately I doubt HMG at that time will have the wisdom to "divide
and conquer". Rather they will come up with a bigger more
encompassing structure. Such is the nature of these things.

For any number of reasons smaller, manageable, municipalities and
counties are better. Not least because of the tendency to compete on
quality of life issues, and the attraction of jobs. Moreover, as time
passes people put down roots and civic pride boosts the local
identity.

A brief look at the Metropolis of Atlanta is instructive. At first
sight, at a map of the Sovereign State of Georgia, Atlantis appears to
be a major metropolis to the middle north of the state.

However, a closer look shows a county line running north to south thru
the metropolis. Atlanta is in fact a City within the County of
Fulton. The Eastern half of the Metropolis is primarily the City of
Decatur in the County of DeKalb. ( DeKalb County does have other
municipalities, and unincorporated areas).

Is the region poorer for this split? Absolutely not. The local
authorities are able to cooperate when needed. With surrounding
Counties they jointly built and operate the marvellous Marta Rail
Transit system.

OTOH the municipalities each have their own style and compete to
attract business. Each has its distinct character and demographic.

This of course would not be a model attractive to people who love to
control.