> Differences in world view are less significant when the bureaucrats and executives with power over your life live nearby instead of in another city and state.

This statement is ambiguous. I see two obvious interpretations:

1. Differences in worldview are less important when the bureaucrats with power over your life live nearby.

2. Differences in worldview are smaller when the bureaucrats with power over your life live nearby.

I think #2 is true and #1 is false.