Let's say U.S. becomes more and more of a banana republic - how would life in DC area change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The criminal justice system in DC is the ONLY jurisdiction in the country that actually has Federal prosecutors that prosecute DC state-level crimes. They are the toughest and most qualified criminal lawyers in the entire American Bar. There is no stricter, highly qualified and pitbull-like collection of prosecutors anywhere in the US. If you think defendants in this city get off easily in this town--you are laughably misinformed.

-defense attorney

Isn't the issue with criminal justice in DC related to juries unwilling to convict and lenient municipal judges?

Correct. The prosecutors can be the most qualified but they can't get the convictions. Just like Hillary Clinton was the most qualified to be president, but she couldn't win the election.
You have to make your case to the people: DC prosecutors can't do it; Hillary couldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

What are you even talking about? None of the bolded are true to the extent that DC is any worse than Boston, New York, Miami, or LA.

1. I'll take a statue of a Mayor who had a drug problem over a traitorous, slave-owning Civil war criminal any day.

2. Hookers? LOL You might as well site at least a quarter of the House of Representatives.

3. One Party rule? Have you looked into the party system in the Red states that the Repubs gerrymandered?

You're misinformed. If you even live within the city limits (which I doubt), you're probably a recent transplant from a Red state and or a Trump supporter.

Of course, you are a DC resident. It is your mindset that made it as dysfucntional as it is today. And that is light years ahead of the condition of the city under Mayor for Life, Barry. I can't wait to see his statue erected. Every chance I get, I am going to stop by and kick him in the shins for everytime he punched my ass on the Council elevator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

Absolutely nails it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The criminal justice system in DC is the ONLY jurisdiction in the country that actually has Federal prosecutors that prosecute DC state-level crimes. They are the toughest and most qualified criminal lawyers in the entire American Bar. There is no stricter, highly qualified and pitbull-like collection of prosecutors anywhere in the US. If you think defendants in this city get off easily in this town--you are laughably misinformed.

-defense attorney

Oh, that must explain the complete lack of crime in DC then, huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

Except for the one party rule, that isn't the DC I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

Except for the one party rule, that isn't the DC I know.

Rose-colored glasses to justify your choices.

The list doesn’t even mention DC’s failing schools and infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

Not sure what city you are referring to b/c it's certainly not DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

Absolutely nails it.

I guess that's why our population is booming and the city has become so expensive. Because of the high crime

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn’t change much, if at all. DC is basically a banana republic now:

-corrupt, inept local government

-horrible public services

-high crime

-litter all over the place

-anarchy on the roads on no traffic enforcement

-a broken, unreliable train system

-one-party rule

-statutes and buildings honoring a crack-smoking,
hooker-hiring mayor

-police who don’t show up

-emergency response system so bad that a man died on the sidewalk outside a fire station a couple years ago

-unsafe buildings that cause hazards and sometimes collapse, with little to no DCRA action

-a broken criminal justice system that encourages violence and crime

Really, what else is there?

What are you even talking about? None of the bolded are true to the extent that DC is any worse than Boston, New York, Miami, or LA.

1. I'll take a statue of a Mayor who had a drug problem over a traitorous, slave-owning Civil war criminal any day.

2. Hookers? LOL You might as well site at least a quarter of the House of Representatives.

3. One Party rule? Have you looked into the party system in the Red states that the Repubs gerrymandered?

You're misinformed. If you even live within the city limits (which I doubt), you're probably a recent transplant from a Red state and or a Trump supporter.

Of course, you are a DC resident. It is your mindset that made it as dysfucntional as it is today. And that is light years ahead of the condition of the city under Mayor for Life, Barry. I can't wait to see his statue erected. Every chance I get, I am going to stop by and kick him in the shins for everytime he punched my ass on the Council elevator.

Fine, but how long ago was that? I actually miss the hookers on 14th street. At least it was entertaining. Now we only have hookers in Congress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is US so filled with trash and litter all over. I did not expect a 1st world country to be so filthy?

Most of the US isn’t like this. DC is uniquely disgusting and filthy.

Where? Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is US so filled with trash and litter all over. I did not expect a 1st world country to be so filthy?

Most of the US isn’t like this. DC is uniquely disgusting and filthy.

I asked my councilmember about the nasty gum stains on the sidewalks in our business district and she shrugged. Apparently the city leaves it to willing merchant coalitions or citizenry to clean up. They can't, as a city, order the tools and hire a team to clean citywide. Funny as the council is also always concerned about underemployment. I notice sidewalks on city owned property are never shoveled in our neighborhood in the winter as well, and as a result are treacherous to walk. At the same time they threaten homeowners with tickets. Again, why not hire a shovel brigade? Will the folks in the 8 New homeless shelters be required to have jobs or schooling? Perhaps that could be a win win scenario,start with the shovel/cleanup brigade and move up the ladder to other opportunities with proven responsibility and work skills

Which ward?

[Anonymous]

Forcing people on the dole to do work is racist.....or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is US so filled with trash and litter all over. I did not expect a 1st world country to be so filthy?

Most of the US isn’t like this. DC is uniquely disgusting and filthy.

I asked my councilmember about the nasty gum stains on the sidewalks in our business district and she shrugged. Apparently the city leaves it to willing merchant coalitions or citizenry to clean up. They can't, as a city, order the tools and hire a team to clean citywide. Funny as the council is also always concerned about underemployment. I notice sidewalks on city owned property are never shoveled in our neighborhood in the winter as well, and as a result are treacherous to walk. At the same time they threaten homeowners with tickets. Again, why not hire a shovel brigade? Will the folks in the 8 New homeless shelters be required to have jobs or schooling? Perhaps that could be a win win scenario,start with the shovel/cleanup brigade and move up the ladder to other opportunities with proven responsibility and work skills

Do you actually live in DC? DC has clean street teams that deal with this exact issue and I'm surprised to hear that a Councilmember would not be aware. The local main street organizations are usually linked up with a clean team.

Also you do realize a lot of homeless, particularly short term homeless, work? And that getting them into housing asap helps them to hold on to their jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is US so filled with trash and litter all over. I did not expect a 1st world country to be so filthy?

Most of the US isn’t like this. DC is uniquely disgusting and filthy.

I asked my councilmember about the nasty gum stains on the sidewalks in our business district and she shrugged. Apparently the city leaves it to willing merchant coalitions or citizenry to clean up. They can't, as a city, order the tools and hire a team to clean citywide. Funny as the council is also always concerned about underemployment. I notice sidewalks on city owned property are never shoveled in our neighborhood in the winter as well, and as a result are treacherous to walk. At the same time they threaten homeowners with tickets. Again, why not hire a shovel brigade? Will the folks in the 8 New homeless shelters be required to have jobs or schooling? Perhaps that could be a win win scenario,start with the shovel/cleanup brigade and move up the ladder to other opportunities with proven responsibility and work skills

Do you actually live in DC? DC has clean street teams that deal with this exact issue and I'm surprised to hear that a Councilmember would not be aware. The local main street organizations are usually linked up with a clean team.

Also you do realize a lot of homeless, particularly short term homeless, work? And that getting them into housing asap helps them to hold on to their jobs?

They must do a poor job. Have you ever looked at the entrance to a CVS, metro, mom and pop, around a garbage can etc? Look at the sidewalks of U or 14th street next time you wander through.

My grandmother made a decent living as a janitor. I'm not sure what your concern is over those who are not employed entering win win scenarios with the city. City owned sidewalks are a hazard in the winter. And an eyesore in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how people who have given this any thought - especially people with experience living in increasingly unequal, corrupt and dysfunctional places - see things unfolding in the DC area in that kind of scenario.

My guess is that crime would increase, the few affluent folks and the dwindling numbers of middle-class people live increasingly isolated lives in their secured homes because they are afraid to venture out as much, and many homes would be turned into boarding houses as a way to help make ends meet. I don't know why in some other cities like Paris, the slums are on the outskirts, whereas in many faded American cities, the areas that went downhill first are close in - maybe zoning? Another difference I can think of is that the social fabric in the U.S. is generally weaker than in most other cultures where people are less mobile and extended families are closer knit, so that might make things unfold a little differently too.

White flight that's why. Although it gentrification it seems like poverty is becoming more concentrated in the outskirts.