Strip Government

There's a theory of retail development that holds retailers to a development mandate of the following nature:

1. Enterprise
2. Growth and expansion
3. Foreign competition through imports
4. Foreign purchases of domestic businesses
5. Domestic companies under foreign ownership
that compete with other domestic and foreign companies.

The hypothesis is that innovators may enter the market at any point, but to survive competition they must evolve as dynamic companies willing to assume the risks of pricing pressures and cheaper competition -- eventually trading ownership for existence and trading tradition for new clients. The theory is called the 'Wheel of Retailing' and could be applied to government as well.

Governments could be decentralized and remain highly visible by moving into strip malls that line hundreds of miles of highways. There is ready made parking close to the front doors, so constituents could spring into action easily when motivated to do so. Also, the addresses would be much more distinguishable, so much economy would follow the reduction of use of those ponderous federal employee locators and staff office index books that gather dust in great numbers in huge warehouse-like structures that currently house most government offices.

Oh yes, and with the more reasonable rent and shorter commutes from their constituents, many more public sector services such as hot coffee and coin laundries would be nearby our elected officials. That is, would be near those who don't already work from home.