-----
Our ancestors fought and died to give and protect our right to representative government. A major battle was fought right here in Guilford County. Remember the idea of "No taxation without representation?" Some of us take advantage of that right, some do not possess it.
Many citizens, in fact, a majority of those eligible to vote do not take advantage of the right. Citizens living in DC do not have an option. A member of the US House of Representatives from the District of Columbia (because of the wording in the US Constitution) does not have a vote.
I think this is wrong. Here is some information I have found about the problem and about a bill that has been progressing through the system for some time. The full House of Representatives is set to take up the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act next week. If this legislation is passed it will be another step in the struggle to give every adult US citizen full voting rights. It will be discussed and voted on in the next few weeks. I hope it passes.
The Washington Post reports today that the White House opposes the bill because The Constitution specifies only people of the several states elect representatives to the House; and, DC is not a state.
Full Text of House Bill 5388 is available at the Library of Congress Web Site.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.5388:
And more information from the League of Women Voters of the US:
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on the Judiciary both approved the DC Voting Rights Act the week of March 12, clearing the way for historic action in the full House of Representatives.
Citizens of the District of Columbia pay U.S. taxes, fight and die for the U.S. during wartime, and are governed by the laws that Congress passes. And yet they have no voting representation in Congress. They have only a non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives.
The “District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act,” sponsored by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D DC) and Representative Tom Davis (R VA), would right this wrong. The legislation provides voting representation in the House for DC citizens by increasing the size of the House by two seats – one for DC and the other for the state of Utah, which is entitled to the next seat by size of population. This balanced approach provides voting rights for District citizens without upsetting the partisan balance of the House.
Americans living in the nation’s capital deserve to have voting representation in the body that makes their laws, taxes them and can call them to war. Only Congress can ensure that the democracy Americans have espoused and fought for across the globe becomes a reality in the nation’s capital.
A basic principle of democracy is at stake. Your Representative needs to hear from you today! Please urge your Representative to support the DC Voting Rights Act.
You can contact your Representative and give him or her your opinion on this bill.
Phone calls are helpful and can be made through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121.
Yipee! I can blog again!
------
Maybe I'm the only one who missed my blog, but just in case someone else did, I'm back!!!!!!!
I have been having trouble with my computer for some time now. When I retired from my Art Supply Business, I took my old 1997-model I-Mac home and transferred most of my info to my husband's slightly newer I-Mac.
His ran on MAC OS10 point something. My was still on MAC 9. I combined the two so my old programs would work on his machine. Finally, several months ago, it became too much for his little red computer to handle.
My wonderfun daughters cleaned up Dad's old computer after he helped me buy a new I-Book. I love mine and he can use his again since all of my junk is gone.
I am a pack rat by nature and my beautiful, old aqua blue I-Mac is sitting unused on top of my sewing machine cabinet. I will miss seeing it when I pack it away and wait for it to become a valuable antique that my great-great grandchildren can sell for big bucks. (LOL)
I'm ready to blog!
diane
Maybe I'm the only one who missed my blog, but just in case someone else did, I'm back!!!!!!!
I have been having trouble with my computer for some time now. When I retired from my Art Supply Business, I took my old 1997-model I-Mac home and transferred most of my info to my husband's slightly newer I-Mac.
His ran on MAC OS10 point something. My was still on MAC 9. I combined the two so my old programs would work on his machine. Finally, several months ago, it became too much for his little red computer to handle.
My wonderfun daughters cleaned up Dad's old computer after he helped me buy a new I-Book. I love mine and he can use his again since all of my junk is gone.
I am a pack rat by nature and my beautiful, old aqua blue I-Mac is sitting unused on top of my sewing machine cabinet. I will miss seeing it when I pack it away and wait for it to become a valuable antique that my great-great grandchildren can sell for big bucks. (LOL)
I'm ready to blog!
diane
Suggestions for FEMA
HEY FEMA,
BRING IN THE TRAILERS. THE GOVERNMENBT ALREADY OWNS THEM.
I entered Florida yesterday during a raging downpour. Stopping at the welcome center for my free orange or grapefruit juice and a clean rest room, I was told by an attendant in the welcome center that there was a tornado watch in central Florida.
This morning I heard that tormadoes, thunderstorms and high winds had devastated areas of Florida and caused at least 19 deaths. Many homes, trees, buildings, trailers (pardon me, Mobile homes) had been destroyed.
There have been many news conferences today and pleas for help. And the fantasy that the federal government and private insurance companies will help the people in this area. There has been much talk about why there was very little warning in the early morning hours just before the tornadoes hit.
I think that one reason these winds hit without warning is that "old timey" local sirens that warned residents of impending danger have been replaced by tv and radio reports. Very few people are listening to a radio or tv at 3 o'clock in the morning.
There have been many news conferences where community, state and federal "Leaders" are talking about who should be doing what to help victims of this disaster. They are talking about finding victims and counseling survivors and why people were unaware of the danger.
Warning sirens should be blaring tornado warnings when there is an approaching twister. We should not have to read a crawl across the local tv screen to know that dangerous weather is approaching.
For this particular incident,I think that FEMA should start moving the mobile homes that are still unused after the Katrina fiasco. The trailer parks that already have the infrastructure to accommodate these homes can be used for temporary or permanent housing for folks who are homeless. Even if there is no electricity, water, sewer, etc at this minute, it would probably be easier to fix than other options.
Instead of talking, local officials should be arranging to have the ruble cleared as soon as possible and utilities restored. Find temporary food, water and shelter and stop depending on someone else to do it.
Waiting for federal help is ok, but there is nothing wrong with a little do-it-yourself ingenuity. Get the place ready for the new trailers. It is possible that FEMA will be better this time. The feds might have learned something. Don't count on it; but, almost anything is possible.
BRING IN THE TRAILERS. THE GOVERNMENBT ALREADY OWNS THEM.
I entered Florida yesterday during a raging downpour. Stopping at the welcome center for my free orange or grapefruit juice and a clean rest room, I was told by an attendant in the welcome center that there was a tornado watch in central Florida.
This morning I heard that tormadoes, thunderstorms and high winds had devastated areas of Florida and caused at least 19 deaths. Many homes, trees, buildings, trailers (pardon me, Mobile homes) had been destroyed.
There have been many news conferences today and pleas for help. And the fantasy that the federal government and private insurance companies will help the people in this area. There has been much talk about why there was very little warning in the early morning hours just before the tornadoes hit.
I think that one reason these winds hit without warning is that "old timey" local sirens that warned residents of impending danger have been replaced by tv and radio reports. Very few people are listening to a radio or tv at 3 o'clock in the morning.
There have been many news conferences where community, state and federal "Leaders" are talking about who should be doing what to help victims of this disaster. They are talking about finding victims and counseling survivors and why people were unaware of the danger.
Warning sirens should be blaring tornado warnings when there is an approaching twister. We should not have to read a crawl across the local tv screen to know that dangerous weather is approaching.
For this particular incident,I think that FEMA should start moving the mobile homes that are still unused after the Katrina fiasco. The trailer parks that already have the infrastructure to accommodate these homes can be used for temporary or permanent housing for folks who are homeless. Even if there is no electricity, water, sewer, etc at this minute, it would probably be easier to fix than other options.
Instead of talking, local officials should be arranging to have the ruble cleared as soon as possible and utilities restored. Find temporary food, water and shelter and stop depending on someone else to do it.
Waiting for federal help is ok, but there is nothing wrong with a little do-it-yourself ingenuity. Get the place ready for the new trailers. It is possible that FEMA will be better this time. The feds might have learned something. Don't count on it; but, almost anything is possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
