I have no doubt that Rep. Nicholas Gorham is sincere in his belief that creating one rural über-town in western Rhode Island is a good idea (“Westconnaug’s many efficiencies,” Commentary, March 18). I also understand the concept of consolidating government and services, however, and Representative Gorham is overlooking two important points.

Point 1: By and large, the towns that would make up Westconnaug “ain’t broke,” so why does he feel compelled to fix them? In West Greenwich, Exeter, Scituate, Foster, Glocester and western Coventry we pretty much manage to pay our way and take care of ourselves. The only time we end up with serious problems is when the State of Rhode Island decides to tell us what we can and cannot do.

For example, there is the 5 percent property-tax-increase cap, which handcuffs local officials and deprives local taxpayers of the right to decide how much of their money is spent and on what. This cap may be a necessary evil in the cities and the suburban ring, where government is big, anonymous and unresponsive to its citizens and where it is the perception that the only thing that drives said government is political power and personal corruption, but that is not how things work in rural Rhode Island.

Point 2: One of the many joys of living in a rural community is that if you have a problem, your local government is accessible and responsive. If you know someone or have the opportunity to get to know someone it is a lot easier to care about them and want to help them.

The other day, I had coffee with a Town Council member. Two weeks ago I had a meeting with the superintendent of schools. At any time I could stop by Town Hall, without an appointment, and speak with the town administrator, the town clerk, the police chief, the town planner etc., etc.

This is not some kind of bizarre rural name dropping. It is how we live. We are neighbors, we are friends. We know each other and we help each other. We can work out our issues together and when worse comes to worst we can compromise or agree to disagree. Having one government for the 5 1/2 towns would obliterate this essential and positive aspect of rural culture. Rhode Island needs to preserve its rural communities, not create another suburb.

I know Representative Gorham wants to help the communities he represents. If he could turn his attention to a new formula for public-school funding, that would help. If he could fight ever-rising health-insurance costs, if he could work to repeal unfunded state mandates and help change the destructive culture of state government, that would help. Otherwise, we in rural Rhode Island are more than happy to help each other and help ourselves.

CYNTHIA A. WALSH

West Greenwich