Centralized governance is always present when a society reaches the stage where it can be called a civilization. Communist China and the USA can both be thought of as civilized societies but the citizens in China have far less freedom and liberty and are oppressed by the central government as opposed to the USA. Here the citizens are considered free. So liberty and civilization are mutually exclusive and although it's possible both can be achieved together it's also possible that they don't or can't coexist because of the nature of central government. In that case the citizens must decide which is more important and is it important enough to fight for at the expense of losing the other.
Consider the Sioux tribe in 1840. They were as free as birds but considered uncivilized. In that year and in that era, men left the comforts of big cities on the east coast and headed to California seeking their fortunes. They forfeited the creature comforts of civilization for the rough and dangerous life of gold prospecting but they freed themselves from the class structure and oppressive weight of political parties and police forces ruling the big "civilized" cities of the Northeast.
Give me liberty or give me death was a slogan not conceived of by men who thought of civilization as the most important achievement of man. Liberty is our highest calling and if we have to tear a civilization down to achieve it then so be it. We are very close in this country to sacrificing liberty for the creature comforts and security of a dominating central government.
I know at times a structure may have been built with plans designed by men who wanted soundness, simplicity of function and beauty. But maybe termites or misuse or failure to maintain has necessitated tearing it down and rebuilding it. No reason not to use the same plan. That's what this country needs but I haven't a clue as to how to do that. I know one thing though. It is a matter of removing the termites and crooked lazy property managers through a military judicial system. Right now.