tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post112369583086316570..comments2023-10-01T06:46:18.446-05:00Comments on Exit, pursued by a bear: Stop Picking on D.C.!tommyspoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032797715527900678noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123760311850127612005-08-11T06:38:00.000-05:002005-08-11T06:38:00.000-05:00Alison -- You're probably correct. On a related no...Alison -- You're probably correct. On a related note, I heard "outside the beltway" several times while in Seattle: once by one of the Front Desk folks at our hotel, once on the local morning news, and by a passerby at the Pike Place Market. Perhaps a trend is being born... <BR/><BR/>Joe -- Your suggestion has one teeny tiny problem: Maryland doesn't want D.C.! They've said it over and over, it's the one issue that seems to cross party lines in the Free State.<BR/><BR/>John -- No worries, dude. I knew you were kidding. And I also knew that you were referring to the whole 50/50 thing, which is kind of silly. My Constitutional citations were offered to prove that this document is not some stone table sent down by a higher power. I mean, if the Founders were the super-geniuses that we feel they are, why didn't they resolve the issue with the "Federal enclave"? Oh, and those lobbyist ads that Joe referred to? They are just as bad as congressional ads, and we hear them ALL THE TIME. Imagine the same thing for those congressional ads.<BR/><BR/>Lemming -- You'll pardon me if I don't care for your wishy-washy description of my hometown. ;-) This is a disgraceful situation and I hope it is resolved in my lifetime. But I won't be surprised if it isn't.<BR/><BR/>For all of you "outside the beltway" types who want to do something about this, you can write your congresscritters and let them know that you don't like this situation. (I'm looking at you, CPF, since you just visited.) You can sign the petition at www.DCvote.org. Or you can join Joe and I in hurling ballot boxes into the Potomac River.tommyspoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11032797715527900678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123716826373423042005-08-10T18:33:00.000-05:002005-08-10T18:33:00.000-05:00Lemming: I know what kind of rights U.S. fish and ...Lemming: I know what kind of rights U.S. fish and fowl have. In fact, I'm about to go into my kitchen and practice them right now.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like about what Congress thinks of DC residents too...<BR/><BR/>John: thanks for clarifying that the ESPN flap is what DC needed to "get over." Fair point. Eyes on the prize, people.<BR/><BR/>However, I can guarandamntee you that DC residents see their own share of political ads and yours. First of all, the stations do broadcast to the full citizens out in the burbs. Second, that's where the lobbyists air their ads to get the leaders to see them.<BR/><BR/>And yes, the Founders wanted DC free of state politics. I think Jeff Davis pretty much proved that wasn't the big issue...<BR/><BR/>DC was originally designed as a full diamond. Virginia ceded a lot of land to the project; the Feds never used it and gave it back. So there is some precedent for my approach.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05385463369182392891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123710034473689902005-08-10T16:40:00.000-05:002005-08-10T16:40:00.000-05:00I like the idea of D.C. as its own entity, neither...I like the idea of D.C. as its own entity, neither fish nor fowl. That having been said,it is horrible that they have no direct representation yet carry pretty hefty burdens and expectations particualrly at times such as presidential inaugurations.lemminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06767103318863906140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123706605722781782005-08-10T15:43:00.000-05:002005-08-10T15:43:00.000-05:00By the way, Joe's comments above about Davis' plan...By the way, Joe's comments above about Davis' plan make perfect sense to me. I say start throwing ballot boxes intot he Potomac in protest.John Burzynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01150703086918637288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123706451982391522005-08-10T15:40:00.000-05:002005-08-10T15:40:00.000-05:00Tommyspoon:Yes, my comment was mostly in jest...s...Tommyspoon:<BR/><BR/>Yes, my comment was mostly in jest...sometimes that doesn't come across as well in writing as it does in person. <BR/><BR/>I really did find it interesting that on the all-news station (1530 or so AM???) in DC, the hot topic of the hour was the ESPN 50/50 (soon to be 51/51) slight, and the station wasn't covering sports at the time. The station was having a serious discussion concerning the program and te slight on DC.<BR/><BR/>Maybe a better suggestion is to get rid of the politicians and government types in DC and make it all one large residential area. Think of how it would free up many of our problems in government.<BR/><BR/>The District of Columbia was originally envisioned by the Fathers as a center of government, not of population. <BR/><BR/>ARTICLE 1 SECTION 8 CLAUSE 17 pretty well lays out that DC will be formed at the cession (BASICALLY SURRENDERING) of the land by the states. <BR/><BR/>I suspect that the above two reasons, that DC would be a center of government, and that the land it rests on would be given over by the states, both are the reasons why DC has never been given representation. I suspect the Fathers wanted the seat of national government not to be the property of any state...or to be involved in the politics that states have within and with each other. Kind of 'neutral territory', so to speak.<BR/><BR/>As of the 1800 census, DC included a population 10,066 whites, 793 free Negroes and 3,244 slaves, so the population there must have been a bit significant to the framers/Fathers during the 1780's when the Constitution was written. <BR/><BR/><BR/>There was an amendment movement back in the 1970's and 80's to give DC reps, but the amendment died with the states, it didn't get the 3/4 of states' legislatures approval necessary for passage.<BR/><BR/>The taxation / representation issue would irk me if I lived in DC, to be sure. Then again, think of the angst saved by DC residents at not having to view commercials for Congressional elections...John Burzynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01150703086918637288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123703032361557662005-08-10T14:43:00.000-05:002005-08-10T14:43:00.000-05:00Davis has an interesting plan. Personally, I'm pre...Davis has an interesting plan. Personally, I'm prepared to say that the Feds should define and police a Federal Enclave, and the rest of the District ought to be returned to Maryland.<BR/><BR/>Maryland gets probably 1 more Rep out of it, which is fair. It's really hard for me to argue that DC deserves its own 2 Senators.<BR/><BR/>But the important thing being there are U.S. Citizens living in the District who DON'T HAVE A VOTE IN CONGRESS. It's a shame and an outrage. That kind of crap is why we don't sing God Save The Queen before baseball games. <BR/><BR/>Makes me wish the still shipped tea into Georgetown.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05385463369182392891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11748728.post-1123699859526125132005-08-10T13:50:00.000-05:002005-08-10T13:50:00.000-05:00For what it's worth, I'd hazard a guess that these...For what it's worth, I'd hazard a guess that these sentiments are held by more than 50% of the "inside-the-beltway" folks who don't actually live in the District themselves.<BR/><BR/>Of course, only "inside-the-beltway" people see the country as divided into "inside-the-beltway" and "outside-the-beltway" anyhow. Use either of those expressions in most of the rest of the country, and you will likely receive blank stares.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09264228750184271133noreply@blogger.com