Are counties an anachronism from the 19th century? As Californians debate ideas for re-inventing state and local government, some argue that counties don’t make sense anymore. They should be abolished, it is argued, or at least consolidated.

During a question and answer session this morning at a Sacramento meeting on government reform, one audience member embraced the idea: “I live in Marin County,” he joked, “I think we should abolish Sonoma County.”

He didn’t ask whether the feeling was mutual.