> This isn't even speculative: the current the COVID-19 response in America has required local councils and city boards to coordinate, particularly in the absence of any clear direction at a Federal and frequently State level.

Yes. And so far the local responses have been better, or at least did less damage, than most of the more centralized actions. Like the FDA banning almost all tests.

Here's an article https://reaction.life/why-is-germany-able-to-test-for-corona... exploring aspects of centralization vs decentralization by way of comparing the German and UK responses to the pandemic so far.

The German system has centralized advice and coordination from the Robert Koch institute, but no centralized institution to ban local initiatives.