We need a constitutional amendment that moves the capitol to a different city every two years. And no city can be the capitol twice. If politicians, journalists and lobbyists are forced to move every two years, hanging on to the federal tit may not continue to be as attractive as it is now.
You know, that is not a bad idea at all. The only real risk is the loss of touristic prestige that comes with a movable capital, but most people I know abroad want to visit NYC before D.C., anyway. The courtly image is not a concern as the U.S. president is not supposed to be a king and has never done a good job of pretending to be one when he has tried (think B. Hussein O.). That leaves us only with the question of rotating facilities.
We need a constitutional amendment that moves the capitol to a different city every two years. And no city can be the capitol twice. If politicians, journalists and lobbyists are forced to move every two years, hanging on to the federal tit may not continue to be as attractive as it is now.
Some of the people in Washington are all for The Working Man to reduce his carbon footprint, but do little to reduce their own. One possibility is that the Representatives and Senators remain living in their home states, and participate in the acts of legislation via electronic presence. That reduces travel costs, reduces access by professional lobbyists while increasing access by constituents, and keeps the decision maker outside the beltway.
Another benefit of our elected officials telecommuting is to require they access bill materials using public Web points, so that what they see, we can see.
Not to mention all the office space that would no longer be needed. Or the commuting in Washington; the staff would be in the home state, too.
Even better if they were forced to stay in some place really unpleasant.
Remember how the press hated to accompany GWB to Crawford, Texas in August.
How about moving the capitol permanently and year-round to Adak -- in the Aleutians? Purportedly home of the world's worst weather. Where you can't hide from the wind behind a tree...because there are no trees.
Plus, it would be a short commute for Sarah...
“We need a constitutional amendment that moves the capitol to a different city every two years. And no city can be the capitol twice. If politicians, journalists and lobbyists are forced to move every two years, hanging on to the federal tit may not continue to be as attractive as it is now.”
In the same vein, but more in keeping with free market capitalism and less dependent on constitutional tinkering: Put the nation’s capitol up for bidding by any qualified U.S. municipality whenever the federal budget is in deficit. IOW, much as pro sports teams are auctioned off to new owners when their economic viability crashes, do the same with the capitol. The explicit point is to make the dang thing economically viable - or else!
As it happens, I’ve resided inside the Beltway for nigh 40 years, so I doubt I can be accused of parochialism.