Repeal Day for Congressional Stepchild!

Most people in this great land celebrate Repeal Day on December 5th, the day Utah (yes, the Mormon state) helped the United States ratify the 21st amendment in 1933 thus ending Prohibition for almost everybody. The residents of Washington, DC celebrate Repeal Day on March 2nd. Say whaaaa?

Residents of Washington, DC have, quite literally since it was created, been the red-headed stepchild of Congress. Initially, Washington, DC was completely under federal control. It got better in 1974 but as a resident of the District, I still have a long list of grievances about Congressional meddling in our local affairs. In the past, the US Congress has asserted its will on issues such as abortion, gun control, budgets, and voting rights (Congress really enjoys imposing rules on DC residents that don't pass muster on a national scale). All local laws, including the budget, must be approved by Congress. My favorite is voting rights. The approximately 600,000 residents of Washington, DC do not enjoy basic voting rights. We have no official member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Yes, Elanor Holmes Norton represents us in the House and we have a Shadow Senator but these positions do not have voting rights on federal legislation. Also, in my head the Shadow Senator does nothing but follow the real Senators around the halls of the Capitol Building.

Getting back to the issue at hand...On November 1, 1917, the Sheppherd Act went into effect "prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and importation of liquor in the District of Columbia." The legislation was repealed on March 1, 1934, some three months after repeal ended for the rest of the country. Not only did DC get Prohibition some 2 years early it lasted a few months longer. Our forefathers stayed thirsty longer than your forefathers.

"Taxation without Representation is Tyranny"
-James Otis, Jr

Decisions, Decisions

Decision 2010 is upon us.  If you haven't started to see the advertisements already you will in short order - particularly if your community is ground zero for a ripe electoral challenge.  Living in Washington, DC, we don't have that problem.  Our Senators are but shadows on Capitol Hill - no, seriously the official position is that of Shadow Senator.  On the House side we have an elected Representative, Elanor Holmes Norton, but she can't actually vote on legislation.  Ms. Norton can, however, introduce legislation.  Our local government passes laws that must be reviewed and approved by Congress.  We also get to serve in the military and get stuck with jury duty.  All of this and we still get to pay federal taxes.

But do you really come here to read the plight of the more than 500,000 Americans who don't have representation in Congress?  If so, get active at DC Vote.

If not, you might be interested in political news out of Minnesota where one hopeful, who is probably a tea partying Communist (oh, it's possible), may have voted to tax bacon AND beer.  Check this out:




I mean, would Jim the Election Guy lead us on?  Well, probably.  Actually, Jim the Election Guy is probably a tea partying Communist too.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
DC Voting Rights Act - Eleanor Holmes Norton
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

Believe it or not, residents of Washington, DC once had a vote but Congress took it away with the passage of the Organic Act in 1801.  DC residents have been allowed to vote in Presidential elections since 1961.

So, when you head to the polls in November remember you're not just voting for your representation you're also voting for ours.