Yeah, that is interesting. The people who gain the most by non-proportional representation, or support from centralized government, or subsidies from the state, are the ones who most loudly claim that they are independent.

It would be pretty easy to cut them off, though, I suppose.

"Ok, we aren't going to pave the roads any more."
"Ok, you can come into town to get your mail."
"Sorry, you will have to pay for your own cell towers and power lines."
"No more agriculture subsidies."
"Incidentally, we want to turn your farm into a subdivision."
"Ambulances will stop at city limits, you can hitch-hike to the hospital."