You can't put a pig farm next to my house for many reasons.

- My property value, for one
- Runoff from your farm can contaminate my property.
- My individual freedom to not have to smell your pig farm regardless of which way the wind is blowing.

...and "back in the day", is a very dangerous path to go down. I mean, for starters, life expectancy average 35-40 years.

Now, I agree with you concerning more localized control where at all possible. But, even so, there are problems with "where do you draw the line" issues. To put it in stark terms, would you want to live in an America where some states could still deny blacks the right to vote or even drink at certain public water fountains?