| At this point, I'd rather have Congress run D.C. Our government is the worst. |
That depends on who is in power in congress at the moment. |
Come on, Pollyanna. Most of us understand that “fairness” is not going to get anything changed and that fighting for DC Statehood is a waste of breath. |
Apparently, according to many posters in DCUM, Congress basically has unilateral authority in state law thanks to the Commerce Clause. If this is as true as many believe, Congress can certainly supercede state laws. Even if Congress doesn't have this authority, Congress can always withhold grants and funding until they get what they want. Why do you think we have a national DUI BAC of 0.08% or had a national speed limit of 55mph? |
I am not deflecting. We are subject to being governed by unelected individuals all the time. You point out one specific case and call it unfair. Are all similar cases also unfair? |
Right, but they are withholding funding from ALL states that don't change the limits AND the withholding of funds is related to what the legislation is. Eg St Thomas has a drinking age of 18 (or did until recently, not sure this is still true) because they don't need federal highway funds. If Congress tried to force them to have a drinking age of 21 by withholding, say, Medicare funds I think the Supreme Court would have a say there. The amendment proposed by Lee is random and unconnected to anything they want DC to do or not do. He just wants the amendment because under the Constitution Congress has the power to supersede DC laws. Which you can argue all you want if he has that right but I certainly have a right to criticize him for using it. |
It would be a shame if St. Thomas' FEMA grants dried up. Your right to criticize is fine. You can't argue it's unfair because you didn't get to vote directly on the law or those who implemented it. If we had that requirement, there would be a law against the eating of broccoli. |
It is not an injustice. You agreed to accept this arrangement as a condition of your residency in the District of Columbia. It is morally and ethically appropriate for those representatives to carry out their responsibility to governor residents of the District of Columbia We moved from the District of Columbia because we did not wish to live under conditions that we could not change. These conditions created an ineffective governance of people who embrace a carpetbagging mentality of allowing outsiders to govern their daily existence. There are three ways to change your situation. Leaving is not one you wish to do. Obtaining statehood is not one that you can do. Complaining on DCUM is available and you have done that. |
I argue that it is unfair that congressmen who I do not have the right to vote for have the right to govern over me. I am not arguing it is unconstitutional, I am arguing it is unfair. |
If everyone agrees that it is unfair, will you stop pouting about your poor choice? |
No, but you can choose to move on to other threads if it bothers you. |
having an independent federal district Is one of the founding principles of our country. |
770,000 disenfranchised Americans who live on the f4cking mainland and the best you can come up with is leave. F you. |
having an independent federal district Is one of the founding principles of our country. Not any more than nine Supreme Court justices. |
So pass a Constitutional amendment. The process for it is very straightforward, explained right in the Articles. Pro Tip: Avoid saying “F you” while trying to seek support for your amendment. Good luck. |