D.C. Mayor Calls for Civil Disobedience in Voting Rights Fight

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams tonight called for "respectful" civil disobedience to call attention to the District's lack of full voting rights in Congress.

Mr. Williams made his remarks to a reporter for WTTG-TV at a gathering to mark the ruling Democratic party's faux presidential primary election held today.

The city's leaders fought the Democratic National Committee to hold the first-in-the-nation primary to highlight the lack of full congressional representation for D.C. residents.

The city backed off from holding an official primary, but went ahead with today's beauty contest.

The WTTG reporter mentioned that one form of civil disobedience under consideration is blocking the 14th Street Bridge, a major commuter route between northern Virginia and the District.

[kristinn]

That sounds good. I've been under the weather lately, so I haven't been there in awhile.

[MJY1288]

"I'd like him better if he'd work to restore the Second Amendment to D.C."

The Second Amendment is alive and well in the District, There are more guns in D.C. than in Baghdad, But in Baghdad they're less visible :-)

[JCG]

DC gets something like 45 dollars for every one dollar they send in.

And that's not niggardly at all.

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)

Who is Steve Emerson?

[TheFrog]

Isn't conspiracy a Felony?

[MJY1288]

OK, I'll FReepmail you my work phone number, I don't know the schedule for this weekends games, But I know they are playing on both Saturday and Sunday. If we can muster enough support for 60 Pizza's and 20 cases of soft drinks, our injured troops should have a good time watching the Championship playoff games. I will pledge the first $300.00 for the cause

[tgslTakoma]

The lack of voting representation in congress is a disgrace.

Not really. As the nation's capital, it was designed to be a city free from the influence of one political party over another.

I will tell you what is a disgrace about DC...

--Students taking the SATs scored an average of just under 800 total.
--Residents of the city have no right to self defense against the human vermin who prey on them.

There's more, but I'll let others add to "What's disgraceful about DC."

It is an anomaly for a great democracy to have a people that are federally taxed but not have representation. This is not some small amount of taxes paid either. Washington, DC has a huge population too.

The Washington Times wrote an article a few years ago that gave some detail on the amount of federal money per capita that the city received. IIRC, it was something along the lines of $40,000. And the city's population is not huge, nor is it growing.

[MJY1288]

PING for the cause

[mrustow]

The lack of voting representation in congress is a disgrace. It is an anomaly for a great democracy to have a people that are federally taxed but not have representation. This is not some small amount of taxes paid either. Washington, DC has a huge population too.

Tell you what. Let's stop taxing the folks in the District, if they'll renounce all federal services. That should save the rest of us billions!

You're just breaking my heart with your talk about how much DC residents pay in taxes. In a town in which what, 70% of families have at least one member on the federal dole, er, I mean, with a federal job?

[tgslTakoma]

Did you guys know that Washington DC residents were not allowed to vote in presidential elections until the 1960s.

Yes. And some would say now that we should return to those ways. I'd have a difficult time arguing against that idea.

[Indie]

The lack of voting representation in congress is a disgrace. It is an anomaly for a great democracy to have a people that are federally taxed but not have representation. This is not some small amount of taxes paid either. Washington, DC has a huge population too.

Maybe this is an insane remark, but which was first, the Constitution or these people? Kinda' like moving to the end of an airport runway and then complaining about the noise.

I'm not impressed. Move along.

[tgslTakoma]

The people living in D.C. are free to move to any of the 50 states.

And many are. Many families (mostly black) are fleeing for their childrens lives, to the safer suburbs and their (marginally) better schools. I don't blame them.

[TruthNtegrity]

Why should I?

Virginians are taxed more than Marylanders and we have a Republican Governor.

Maryland is much better for small businesses, too. Virginia kills you with taxes and if you make any money, you just send it to Richmond. If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have incorporated my business in MD or Delaware as most do!

I wonder what the ramifications are of DC becoming a state are? I mean, is Congress worried about the two new Senators? Or the representatives? There must be something political that they've fought this off for so long, but I don't know what it is.

[Procyon]

split between Maryland and Virginia

Virginia already got its piece of the District, retroceded back in the 1840s. What's left came from Maryland. If DCtonians want Congressional representation they need to beg Maryland to take them back. As it is the Constitution says only States can have real Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

[TruthNtegrity]

See #19 - Mike is spearheading a campaign to take pizzas and soda to the guys at Walter Reed for this football weekend.

Talk to Mike, please.

My van has me on short trips only - no heat.

[mark beoluke]

The problem is that they most certainly would elect two very liberal Democrat Senators. The Democrats like the idea also for the reason they would most likely be two black Senators as the population is 60% or so black. The Democrats of course would like to then say "Hey, were not racist. Look, now we have two black U.S. Senators. See, we are the party of inclusion.

[MJY1288]

You make a good historical point, But I say leave them as they are. The D.C. Government has proved itself not worthy of Statehood

[Cosmo]

Uh, we've got a democrat in My state of Va.

[Cosmo]

guess I misread your post :)

[MJY1288]

Governor Mark Warner (D)

[MJY1288]

LOL OK :-)