Free DC! -- Taxation without Representation

We moved to the DC area in 2009. If you see a DC license plate, you often see the phrase "Taxation without Representation" on the bottom. Many DC natives want to convert DC to a state, or amend the Constitution so they have a Senator and some Representatives. I don't blame them.

However, given the evils of politics, everyone knows how heavily slanted this voting block would be. This new state would give one party an instant advantage, so neither effort would be able to pass and we'd be stuck with part of our population having a legitimate gripe about taxation without representation.

If you're worred about how weird a 51-state flag would look, type "DC statehood" into Google and click on the Wikipedia site. There is a pretty good one on this site and it doesn't look too bad.

Here's my solution: Make DC a city in Maryland. The existing city was carved out of Maryland to begin with (and Virginia originally). Further, Maryland is already heavily slanted toward one party, so no harm would be done in the Senate. You would; however, add at least a few Representatives in the House (my guess).

The transfer would require an Act of Congress and Maryland would have to accept the land back, much like Virginia accepted it's part of DC back in 1847.

Article 1, Section 8 of the Consitution mentions a seat of Government under federal control, but doesn't mandate it. It merely allows one. I don't think this effort will have a problem Constitutionally (not that anyone pays attention to that document anymore).

I think this is the way to go, with one caveat: The National Mall area (Capitol, White House, Supreme Court, etc.) probably needs to become a National Park or something (if it's not already). I wouldn't trust the state of Maryland or the city to take care of the land itself even though these would be high revenue generating areas due to tourism.

Thoughts?

Term Limits -- Proposed Amendment to the United States Constitution

It's well past time to pass the term limit amendment that gets submitted to Congress every term. Congress is an abomination full of self-serving interests and people making laws to benefit themselves and their heirs at the cost of the rest of us. We need citizens who go to Congress to serve, then return to being a normal citizen, living under the laws they create!

I think the current bill says six years for Representatives and twelve years for Senators. My idea is a little different.

The problem isn't just people in Congress serving too long. Congressional staffers become just as entrenched and corrupt. For example, they were the first to exempt themselves from the Health Care (and Education) bill of 2010. My idea applies to them too. One reason the long-term, power-hungry congressmen give for not implementing term limits is the "parliamentarians" would be able to take advantage of the high turnover rate of new Representatives and Senators.

"No person shall serve as a Representative or Senator longer than twelve years in a lifetime. A person may serve twelve years in one house and then twelve years in the other. All persons employed by the legislative branch shall be limited to twelve years. This amendment shall apply to the term immediately following the ratification of this amendment."

I made that text up myself, so I'm sure some lawyer would have to work on it.

Citizen Lawmakers -- Proposed Amendment to the United States Constitution

Proposed Amendment to the United States Constitution

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ." -- Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution

This came in an email I received: "For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as healthcare, sexual harassment, social security) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come."

On the contrary; I don't think it's an idea whose time has come. It's an idea James Madison missed. This should have been in the large batch of amendments he proposed. Then again, nobody in Congress should have ever thought to exclude themselves from any law... just another example of power corrupting people -- happens every time.

My Legal Philosophy

Allow me to provide my legal philosophy: The Constitution is the law of the land. It details the rights WE give the Federal Government, NOT the other way around. If it's not in the Constitution, the Federal Government can't do it (whether you think it's right or not). If you don't like that, get enough people to agree with you and change the Constitution.

Until then, whatever the Federal Government tries to do outside the Constitution isn't legal and is; therefore, unconstitutional. The powers not delineated in the Constitution are reserved for the States and the People. If you don't believe me, try reading the Constitution some time (Amendment Ten).

You don't have a right to education, health care, a car, a house, an ipod, or any handout. It doesn't exist. Niceties are not rights. If you want a nanny-state, go to Europe. This is the USA.

Poetry from a Long Meeting

As I sat and watched the NCAA Basketball Tournament and flipped back and forth to the decline of our Republic (Health Care Bill vote), I remembered my blog. It's been a few months, and I have a few things saved up to post. I'm no poet, but I was so bored and so tired during a meeting recently, that I decided to write a poem rather than allow my head to bob through the meeting. Enjoy.

“Sleepy” by Brian Farlow

Sleep is good,
Sleep is nice,
I feel like sleeping,
‘Til they put me on ice.

Meetings make me sleepy,
Meetings make me tired,
If only I liked coffee,
Well then, I’d be wired.

Caffeine is what I want,
Caffeine is what I need,
Sleep…is…pulling…me…in,
If…only…