@cstross I wonder if reading those back in the day made me aware of the issue in other books!!! (such a long time and so many books a go I can't remember BUT 1 govt/planet stories definitely jar :- )

(which of course brings this full circle with me remarking on a point you made me aware of in the first place......!!)

@cstross maybe there is a reason a lot of scifi lazily has one government per planet

This has actually bothered me in the past - like how come everyone on the planet all suddenly agree with each other? haven't you ever been in a room full of people?