Rather than have you later fret that you wish I had represented libertarianism in some other way DC lib meetup peeps, I am giving you a few hours to tell me how I should change my answers. But only a few!
This is from the League of Women Voters, and later this week I will be doing the same for WAMU and the Washington Post, so get your suggestions in early! * * *What steps will you take to achieve budget autonomy for the District of Columbia?* * * We should have a referendum where DC voters, not politicians, get to decide between the status quo, statehood, and parity with Puerto Rico, where Americans are exempt from federal income taxation since they do not have representation. Residents' voices at the ballot box will be more meaningful than the legislation proposed by any DC elected officials, since the percentage of DC residents under indictment is much lower than the percentage of DC elected officials under indictment. That said I would revive Delegate Norton's Bill she sponsored in the early 90s, exempting DC residents from federal income taxation, which would give them parity to residents of Puerto Rico and other territories. Additionally I would cite the 10th Amendment, which articulates a decentralist, libertarian principle that rights and powers not granted to the federal government be reserved to states, localities and individuals. I do not think Delegate Norton can or will do this, as it is outside of her federal- and government-centric paradigm. I think the 10th Amendment is particularly relevant to marriage equality. If a state or locality decides something is a valid marriage, the federal government does not get to say the marriage is not valid, and pick and choose which immigration, tax, or Social Security laws apply to which married couples in disregard of the state law. *This year, neither of the major parties included statehood in their platform. What is your plan for achieving full representation for D.C.?* * * *Giving voters the choice. Letting them say whether they want statehood, or an end to taxation without representation. The ruling political class of DC prefers statehood, which is probably why Delegate Norton dropped her Bill exempting DC residents from federal taxation as they have no representation. But to the ruling political class in DC statehood just means they are the state and home rule just means they intend to rule your home. They have no problem disregarding and over ruling the expressed wishes of DC voters. When the DC voters passed a referendum in favor of terms limits by a 2 to 1 margin in the 90s, the DC city cancel declared it invalid. Hence they are an illegitimate body and derive no authorization from voters. And when they are a state they will not and do not intend to represent voters, except when it suits their own agenda.* * * (I actually have 6000 characters for each answer at LWV and I don't think these answers use much more than 1000. So I could say more, if you have a suggestion. If you are a journo getting this it is just FYI and I am not asking you for more assistance, necessarily. Though feel free to give money and vote!) -- Please Note: If you hit "*REPLY*", your message will be sent to *everyone*on this mailing list ( [email protected]) This message was sent by bruce ([email protected]) from Washington D.C. Libertarian Party Meetup <http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-364/>. To learn more about bruce, visit his/her member profile<http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-364/members/10075860/> Set my mailing list to email me As they are sent<http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-364/list_prefs/?pref=1>| In one daily email <http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-364/list_prefs/?pref=2>| Don't send me mailing list messages<http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-364/list_prefs/?pref=0> Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York 10163-4668<#139cf1a85d02bb3b_>| [email protected] -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
