 the very same things can be said about principle 21. Principle 21 of the 5,000-year leap is strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom. I love this one. Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom. If there's one blind spot in the American character that's darker than all others, it's this one, I'm afraid. Almost every American I encounter has lost that sense for strong local self-government. To most Americans,