Anonymous
Post 07/19/2024 06:19     Subject: Re:Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with banning traffic cameras, banning no right on red law, and banning non citizens from voting. I’m sure there are others I won’t like, but I’m fine with those.

You think running red lights in a dense urban environment is okay?


No, did I say that? Do you actually think red light cameras stop cars from running red lights? On my daily commute that passes through many DC neighborhoods with many cameras the answer is no.


Yes, they do. After a few tickets, people stop running those particular lights, particularly when their car gets booted or towed, or a lien is placed on their property.


I don't think this happens anymore in DC... There's like one booting guy employed. And two rat catchers. That's an aside, but also an area of high need.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2024 05:45     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PS and FFS, ban DC's death with dignity law? Because that's what is causing a daily hardship for DC residents?

THESE ARE NOT REAL ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH REAL DC ISSUES?

effing GOP using DC for stupid pet GOP issues that have nothing to do with improving the lives of the people who actually live in the city


The problem is you can say the same thing about the Mayor and Council, and they live here. There is at least hope that some random Republican from Idaho might get it at some point.


I can't stand the mayor or most of the council but I think the odds that a GOP congressperson from Idaho is ever going to "get it" when it comes to making DC a great city for the citizens who actually live here and pay taxes here are nil. And I don't say that because I think people from Idaho are dumb -- I am from Wyoming originally. But the truth is that DC is a dense urban municipality with unique issues (due to being the seat of government and not being part of a state as well as unique things about it's demographics and history) and unless you are from a similar city (say Philly or Baltimore) you are never going to get it. And the arrogance of someone in that position thinking they can fix problems in this city is very similar to the "DC elites" who look at Idaho and think they know how to help the people there.

DC needs to be run by people in DC. We get bad candidates because so many people in DC can't or won't run for government positions (feds cannot run for local office while they are employed by the federal government and the transient nature of many DC-area jobs means we often lose people who have something to offer the city because they leave before they can become embedded enough to take that leap to running for office). Fixing that stuff would do a lot more to improving our elected government than hoping some Congressperson from a distant state or district will somehow understand DC in a way that its own citizens do not.


You hit the nail on the head and I like the mayor.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2024 00:44     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

The thing about technological enhancements to legal enforcements is that they tend to corrupt in two significant ways.

The more obvious is when an external incentive is attached to that enforcement. A fine that is meant to be, more or less, a punitive disincentive has little up-side for the jurisdiction when they are meted out a few per week, and very, very little cost (processing, the cost of which often is included in the amount paid along with the base fine). When that gets to thousands per week, the story changes -- significant upside with that negligible cost.

This creates a perverse incentive to mete out of such punishment to a maximal extent, and can lead to things like a deliberately improper administrstion to ensure that happens. Take the obscured traffic signage on Military Rd that eventually saw an appeals court overturn associated speed camera fines as an example. The desparate gymnastics the city employed to try to avoid such a visible and precedent-setting judgment by repeatedly offering to void the fine in question make the perversion even more obvious.

One might imagine what would happen if there were no fine, but pay-equivalent jail time as the burden assumed from a judgement of statutory violation. The perverse incentive would be eliminated (or nearly so, or even reversed), as the jurisdictional costs of such technologically accelerated enforcement would be hugely burdensome.

The less obvious corruption is that of the societal incentive/disincentive balance, itself, provided by the laws enforced. Nearly all were created (or have legal basis for penalty in laws that were created) when the technology not only did not exist, but was not even envisioned. Those penalties (fines, imprisonment or other) would have been determined with an eye for presenting an appropriate risk-adjusted disincentive to a potential violator, hopefully balancing things such that societal harm from violation is minimized without generating too great a chilling effect on legal/productive activity that might be considered close to the prohibited action.

If technological enforcement enhancements develop without similar technological evasion enhancements (which, as a side note, likely bring access-based inequities and favor scofflaws over those who tend to be more law-abiding), the risk-adjusted balance would be disrupted unless there were a commensurate lessening of the penalty. (We know that the above perversion actually sees the opposite happen in many cases, with steeply increased fines associated with automated enforcement.)

Of course, one could always point to the many laws that do not hit the mark of achieving that balance in the first place -- low risk-adjusted/mathematically expected tax penalties see far too many upper income earners decide to cheat, for instance. One can only guess why efforts toward more automated enforcement in that realm are blocked with regularity
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 23:53     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:Maybe republicans should focus on their own trash districts, many of which have far higher crime and poverty and crappier education than DC.


Shhh now, that goes against the narrative of all the right wing shills dumping in this forum.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 21:16     Subject: Re:Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with banning traffic cameras, banning no right on red law, and banning non citizens from voting. I’m sure there are others I won’t like, but I’m fine with those.

You think running red lights in a dense urban environment is okay?


No, did I say that? Do you actually think red light cameras stop cars from running red lights? On my daily commute that passes through many DC neighborhoods with many cameras the answer is no.


So people just pay a fine daily? We have speed cameras on my street. They have dramatically slowed us all down.


For the 100 feet past the sign.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 20:33     Subject: Re:Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
You think running red lights in a dense urban environment is okay?


Suburbanites in general, but suburban drivers especially, feel entitled to treat the District as their toilet. Free to drive as fast and as dangerously with as few consequences as possible into and through the city, defecate here and then drive back home to their cold suburban shltholes. It's literally the foundation of conservative politics since segregation.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 20:10     Subject: Re:Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with banning traffic cameras, banning no right on red law, and banning non citizens from voting. I’m sure there are others I won’t like, but I’m fine with those.

You think running red lights in a dense urban environment is okay?


No, did I say that? Do you actually think red light cameras stop cars from running red lights? On my daily commute that passes through many DC neighborhoods with many cameras the answer is no.


Yes, they do. After a few tickets, people stop running those particular lights, particularly when their car gets booted or towed, or a lien is placed on their property.


I don’t mean to sound snarky but do you drive in this city much? Because I see plates from MD, VA, FL, NY, etc. speeding all over the place. Running red lights on a regular basis. You think DC will put a lien on their houses? You think DC actually boots cars? Please. They do nothing to actually enforce the tickets people get.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 17:33     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Multiple reps and many staff have been violently assaulted in the past two years. We deserve everything that is coming.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 17:25     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PS and FFS, ban DC's death with dignity law? Because that's what is causing a daily hardship for DC residents?

THESE ARE NOT REAL ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH REAL DC ISSUES?

effing GOP using DC for stupid pet GOP issues that have nothing to do with improving the lives of the people who actually live in the city


The problem is you can say the same thing about the Mayor and Council, and they live here. There is at least hope that some random Republican from Idaho might get it at some point.


I can't stand the mayor or most of the council but I think the odds that a GOP congressperson from Idaho is ever going to "get it" when it comes to making DC a great city for the citizens who actually live here and pay taxes here are nil. And I don't say that because I think people from Idaho are dumb -- I am from Wyoming originally. But the truth is that DC is a dense urban municipality with unique issues (due to being the seat of government and not being part of a state as well as unique things about it's demographics and history) and unless you are from a similar city (say Philly or Baltimore) you are never going to get it. And the arrogance of someone in that position thinking they can fix problems in this city is very similar to the "DC elites" who look at Idaho and think they know how to help the people there.

DC needs to be run by people in DC. We get bad candidates because so many people in DC can't or won't run for government positions (feds cannot run for local office while they are employed by the federal government and the transient nature of many DC-area jobs means we often lose people who have something to offer the city because they leave before they can become embedded enough to take that leap to running for office). Fixing that stuff would do a lot more to improving our elected government than hoping some Congressperson from a distant state or district will somehow understand DC in a way that its own citizens do not.


Counterpoint being that your random Republican will actually put violent criminals in jail and not be cool with people smoking pot in public. That's all they have to do to dunk on our council and mayor.


NP. How will a MoC put criminals in jail and tell MPD how to patrol/enforce?


They could end the no pursuit policy. Tell the cops they won't go to jail if they chase criminals, and then take away prosecutor's discretion from the USAO, like they did in that Chinatown study. There's other stuff they can do, but that's 90% of it right there.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:24     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Former President Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., if he wins a second term in November.

Bowser is a failure time to take back our capital from the criminals, its like barry

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trump-has-threatened-to-take-over-dc-if-reelected-heres-what-that-might-change-for-the-district/3666385/
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:10     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PS and FFS, ban DC's death with dignity law? Because that's what is causing a daily hardship for DC residents?

THESE ARE NOT REAL ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH REAL DC ISSUES?

effing GOP using DC for stupid pet GOP issues that have nothing to do with improving the lives of the people who actually live in the city


The problem is you can say the same thing about the Mayor and Council, and they live here. There is at least hope that some random Republican from Idaho might get it at some point.


I can't stand the mayor or most of the council but I think the odds that a GOP congressperson from Idaho is ever going to "get it" when it comes to making DC a great city for the citizens who actually live here and pay taxes here are nil. And I don't say that because I think people from Idaho are dumb -- I am from Wyoming originally. But the truth is that DC is a dense urban municipality with unique issues (due to being the seat of government and not being part of a state as well as unique things about it's demographics and history) and unless you are from a similar city (say Philly or Baltimore) you are never going to get it. And the arrogance of someone in that position thinking they can fix problems in this city is very similar to the "DC elites" who look at Idaho and think they know how to help the people there.

DC needs to be run by people in DC. We get bad candidates because so many people in DC can't or won't run for government positions (feds cannot run for local office while they are employed by the federal government and the transient nature of many DC-area jobs means we often lose people who have something to offer the city because they leave before they can become embedded enough to take that leap to running for office). Fixing that stuff would do a lot more to improving our elected government than hoping some Congressperson from a distant state or district will somehow understand DC in a way that its own citizens do not.


Counterpoint being that your random Republican will actually put violent criminals in jail and not be cool with people smoking pot in public. That's all they have to do to dunk on our council and mayor.


NP. How will a MoC put criminals in jail and tell MPD how to patrol/enforce?
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:09     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PS and FFS, ban DC's death with dignity law? Because that's what is causing a daily hardship for DC residents?

THESE ARE NOT REAL ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH REAL DC ISSUES?

effing GOP using DC for stupid pet GOP issues that have nothing to do with improving the lives of the people who actually live in the city


The problem is you can say the same thing about the Mayor and Council, and they live here. There is at least hope that some random Republican from Idaho might get it at some point.


I can't stand the mayor or most of the council but I think the odds that a GOP congressperson from Idaho is ever going to "get it" when it comes to making DC a great city for the citizens who actually live here and pay taxes here are nil. And I don't say that because I think people from Idaho are dumb -- I am from Wyoming originally. But the truth is that DC is a dense urban municipality with unique issues (due to being the seat of government and not being part of a state as well as unique things about it's demographics and history) and unless you are from a similar city (say Philly or Baltimore) you are never going to get it. And the arrogance of someone in that position thinking they can fix problems in this city is very similar to the "DC elites" who look at Idaho and think they know how to help the people there.

DC needs to be run by people in DC. We get bad candidates because so many people in DC can't or won't run for government positions (feds cannot run for local office while they are employed by the federal government and the transient nature of many DC-area jobs means we often lose people who have something to offer the city because they leave before they can become embedded enough to take that leap to running for office). Fixing that stuff would do a lot more to improving our elected government than hoping some Congressperson from a distant state or district will somehow understand DC in a way that its own citizens do not.


Counterpoint being that your random Republican will actually put violent criminals in jail and not be cool with people smoking pot in public. That's all they have to do to dunk on our council and mayor.


They could do something about that right now by getting more justice vacancies approved to reconcile the backlog causing significant trial delays, and even work to get our current USAO removed. But.... no, all we get are sound bytes about speed cameras and Death with Dignity. It's hilarious but also maddening and sad.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:07     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:Maybe republicans should focus on their own trash districts, many of which have far higher crime and poverty and crappier education than DC.


We are a large and complicated city and congressional representatives are already tied down with addressing the needs of their own constituents that they are supposed to represent.

There is no possible way that congress has the time to actually get into the nitty gritty detail of governing our city.... other than to enact some 'pet' issues for show and media sound bytes.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:05     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PS and FFS, ban DC's death with dignity law? Because that's what is causing a daily hardship for DC residents?

THESE ARE NOT REAL ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH REAL DC ISSUES?

effing GOP using DC for stupid pet GOP issues that have nothing to do with improving the lives of the people who actually live in the city


The problem is you can say the same thing about the Mayor and Council, and they live here. There is at least hope that some random Republican from Idaho might get it at some point.


I can't stand the mayor or most of the council but I think the odds that a GOP congressperson from Idaho is ever going to "get it" when it comes to making DC a great city for the citizens who actually live here and pay taxes here are nil. And I don't say that because I think people from Idaho are dumb -- I am from Wyoming originally. But the truth is that DC is a dense urban municipality with unique issues (due to being the seat of government and not being part of a state as well as unique things about it's demographics and history) and unless you are from a similar city (say Philly or Baltimore) you are never going to get it. And the arrogance of someone in that position thinking they can fix problems in this city is very similar to the "DC elites" who look at Idaho and think they know how to help the people there.

DC needs to be run by people in DC. We get bad candidates because so many people in DC can't or won't run for government positions (feds cannot run for local office while they are employed by the federal government and the transient nature of many DC-area jobs means we often lose people who have something to offer the city because they leave before they can become embedded enough to take that leap to running for office). Fixing that stuff would do a lot more to improving our elected government than hoping some Congressperson from a distant state or district will somehow understand DC in a way that its own citizens do not.


Counterpoint being that your random Republican will actually put violent criminals in jail and not be cool with people smoking pot in public. That's all they have to do to dunk on our council and mayor.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 16:05     Subject: Republicans are revving up for a D.C. smackdown

Maybe they can re open the 4 lane up and down Connecticut during rush hour