Practically Aliens
1893 Frederick Douglass stated, "Regarding their political rights, residents of the nation's capital are not really citizens but practically aliens in their own country."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
DC is Governed Without Consent.
I might point out that the bedrock principle on which this country (and democracy itself) is founded is Consent of the Governed.DC is Governed Without Consent.
As a DC denizen, I have to point out the following: The United States Congress is not really our Congress, since we have had neither voice nor vote in it for over 200 years; the United States Supreme Court (and other Federal courts) are not really our courts, since we have had no say in their operations, their officers, nor the laws they impose on us, for over 200 years; The United States Constitution is not really even our Constitution, since we have had no say in Amendments 12-27.
I’m neutral on the gun issue. If we weren’t outnumbered 600 to one, maybe guns would be useful in getting us out from under the tyranny (“benevolent” as some may see it) of our countrymen. As it is, I think we need more ballots, and less bullets.
Welcome to DC.
Where Government by Consent of the Governed has been passe for several centuries now (since 1801). Where Americans have consistently, persistently and insistently imposed their own peculiar brand of tyranny on their own fellow citizens for far longer than living memory.
"For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery." Jonathan Swift
Both the Declaratory Act of 1766 and the District Clause of the US Constitution (qv) are unwarranted attempts by a national legislature to arrogate to themselves Absolute Power "in all cases whatsoever" over an unrepresented minority of the national population, in an obvious and egregious violation of a fundamental first principle of participatory government, that it "deriv[es] just power from the consent of the Governed." This persistent, consistent, and insistent violation of fundamental first principles degrades the very legitimacy of the government.
Where Government by Consent of the Governed has been passe for several centuries now (since 1801). Where Americans have consistently, persistently and insistently imposed their own peculiar brand of tyranny on their own fellow citizens for far longer than living memory.
"For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery." Jonathan Swift
Both the Declaratory Act of 1766 and the District Clause of the US Constitution (qv) are unwarranted attempts by a national legislature to arrogate to themselves Absolute Power "in all cases whatsoever" over an unrepresented minority of the national population, in an obvious and egregious violation of a fundamental first principle of participatory government, that it "deriv[es] just power from the consent of the Governed." This persistent, consistent, and insistent violation of fundamental first principles degrades the very legitimacy of the government.
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