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People would rather forget. The years of United States involvement in Southeast Asia, the Viet Nam years, ended for most Americans in 1975. For the Cambodian people, whose history seems an endless succession of wars, occupations, and sufferings, 1975 marked the beginning of an era of terror unknown in previous times. Khmer Rouge soldiers overthrew the corrupt regime of Lon Noi. Literally overnight, whole populations of Cambodian cities were ordered to move to the countryside, under the ruse that America was going to bomb them. The Khmer Rouge tortured and starved the people. Death from disease, malnutrition, and execution were rampant in what became known as the killing fields. When the horr...
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Local governments play a central role in American democracy, providing essential services such as policing, water, and sanitation. Moreover, Americans express great confidence in their municipal governments. But is this confidence warranted? Using big data and a representative sample of American communities, this book provides the first systematic examination of racial and class inequalities in local politics. We find that non-whites and less-affluent residents are consistent losers in local democracy. Residents of color and those with lower incomes receive less representation from local elected officials than do whites and the affluent. Additionally, they are much less likely than privileged community members to have their preferences reflected in local government policy. Contrary to the popular assumption that governments that are “closest” govern best, we find that inequalities in representation are most severe in suburbs and small towns. Typical reforms do not seem to improve the situation, and we recommend new approaches.
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