Proposed Text
Feb. 4th, 2005 04:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mishalakI had a random idea about a petition to help out D.C. I'll probably do nothing with it, but I was thinking about it. I had a dream where I was writing hundreds of letters to petition for something like this. It probably makes about as much sense as a dream.
An Appeal for Justice
I write to appeal for correction of a historical injustice not on my own behalf but that of the citizens of the District of Colombia. These people live without self-determination and an equal voice in government. Recognizing the difficulties and the unique position as the capitol of the nation I humbly submit a measure that should balance the legitimate concerns of congress about the management of the district against the fundamental right to determine their political destiny.
The Federal District Amendment
Section 1. At such time that the District constituting the seat of government of the United States is determined by census to have a number of U.S. Citizens in permanent residents greater than that of the least populous state those citizens shall have the right to form a government equal to in rights and representation to the other states constituting the United States with exceptions as set out in this constitution. Should the population of the District come to be less than 3/4 of the population of the least populous state it shall revert to its prior status.
Section 2. The Congress of the United states upon a vote of 2/3rds of both houses shall have the right to impose an appointed council on all or part of the district for a period of five years should the District's elected government fail in its duties. Congress may vote to extend this period for a further five years by a further 2/3 vote of both houses in the final year of the period. During such time the District will not be deprived of its representation in congress or ability to appoint electors.
Section 3. At least 2/3 of all Federal Taxes collected from District residents shall be directly granted to the government of the District under whichever form of government to be spent for the public good of the citizens and visitors to the District.
Section 4. Should the seat of government of the United State be moved to a different location while the District is acting as a State it shall become a full state no longer subject to the provisions of this or other amendments regulating its status differently than the many states. If the seat of government of the United States is moved to a different district while the District is not acting as a State it shall recession to the state or states from which it was created.
Section 5. Should a census find the population of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States is less than 3/5th the population of the least populous state it the provisions of Amendment XXIII providing for the selection of electors of President and Vice President by the district shall be inoperative until such time that the population of the district is found by census to be more than 3/5 population of the least populous state.
An Appeal for Justice
I write to appeal for correction of a historical injustice not on my own behalf but that of the citizens of the District of Colombia. These people live without self-determination and an equal voice in government. Recognizing the difficulties and the unique position as the capitol of the nation I humbly submit a measure that should balance the legitimate concerns of congress about the management of the district against the fundamental right to determine their political destiny.
The Federal District Amendment
Section 1. At such time that the District constituting the seat of government of the United States is determined by census to have a number of U.S. Citizens in permanent residents greater than that of the least populous state those citizens shall have the right to form a government equal to in rights and representation to the other states constituting the United States with exceptions as set out in this constitution. Should the population of the District come to be less than 3/4 of the population of the least populous state it shall revert to its prior status.
Section 2. The Congress of the United states upon a vote of 2/3rds of both houses shall have the right to impose an appointed council on all or part of the district for a period of five years should the District's elected government fail in its duties. Congress may vote to extend this period for a further five years by a further 2/3 vote of both houses in the final year of the period. During such time the District will not be deprived of its representation in congress or ability to appoint electors.
Section 3. At least 2/3 of all Federal Taxes collected from District residents shall be directly granted to the government of the District under whichever form of government to be spent for the public good of the citizens and visitors to the District.
Section 4. Should the seat of government of the United State be moved to a different location while the District is acting as a State it shall become a full state no longer subject to the provisions of this or other amendments regulating its status differently than the many states. If the seat of government of the United States is moved to a different district while the District is not acting as a State it shall recession to the state or states from which it was created.
Section 5. Should a census find the population of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States is less than 3/5th the population of the least populous state it the provisions of Amendment XXIII providing for the selection of electors of President and Vice President by the district shall be inoperative until such time that the population of the district is found by census to be more than 3/5 population of the least populous state.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-04 04:31 pm (UTC)1. Build a wall around the District, which will now be known as the Federal Feudal Autonomous Zone (FFAZ). A nice wall, with beautiful big cast-iron gates, and guards with pikes *and* rocket launchers.
2. Declare anyone living inside the wall, with the exception of those who are chummy with someone in power, to be owned by the District. Base the criteria on race, class and gender, both arbitrary and corruptible.
3. Divid the owned class into several dozen Leagues, and make them all wear identical uniforms involving very drab cloaks without pockets with the League coat of arms embroidered over the heart. Set the Leagues upon each other with standard paranoid rhetorical gimcrackery.
4. Declare that no District-owned person may use a powered vehicle.
5. Declare one of the Leagues as "untouchable", and make them clean up all the horseshit generated by all the other Leagues.
6. Compulsory calisthenics and singing in the local square every morning at six!
7. Establish dueling as the only method for conflict resolution. Ban guns, and make swordsmanship a compulsory part of the elementary school physical fitness curriculum.
8. Occasionally "accidentally" press-gang an unsuspecting truck driver or other lower-class person from "the outside" into the District, claiming that he didn't have the right papers and had somehow superseded the District's contradictory and arbitrary "Freedom Guidelines".
9. Let people escape once in a while, just for fun.
10. Due process? No. Whim? Yes!
People will try to escape. There will be riots. But, people will also try to break *in*. However, we also need to be arbitrary enough that not just *anyone* can join a League. *Only* those who were originally press-ganged, and their direct descendants, can be part of the original Leagues. We have to have *standards*.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-04 07:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-04 09:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-04 10:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-05 12:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-05 04:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-04 11:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-05 12:37 am (UTC)