June 28, 2005
Random Commuter Thought
Know what this country needs? Summer and winter capitals. I'll bet if the Founding Fathers had any concept of how big the guv'mint was going to become, they wouldn't have dreamed of planting it in a place like this, at least not year 'round. And surely we're past the have-to-split-the-baby-to-keep-everybody-in stage by now.
My vote for a new summer capital? Down East somewhere.
LUNCHTIME UPDATE: Bleh. The other possibility that comes to mind is the Ross Ice Shelf.
Posted by Robert at June 28, 2005 08:19 AMYah right. And our Congressional overlords would go off to to Maine for the summer and leave the bureaucracy to sit here in DC and swelter. Or did you have in mind somehow moving the Department of Justice for the summer, as well???
Posted by: dave s at June 28, 2005 08:35 AMActually, I was thinking of moving the bureaucracy only. Our lords and masters can fend for themselves.
Posted by: Robert the LB at June 28, 2005 08:38 AMActually, I was thinking of moving the bureaucracy only.
*shudder*
For once, this West Coaster isn't so miffed that we were left out of the running.
Posted by: Brian B at June 28, 2005 08:50 AMdon't even think about it. we have the bridge mined. we've already said no to liquid natural gas terminals and casinos on tribal lands; what makes you think we'd go for something even worse? (no offense.) the bureaucrats would be bad enough, but we certainly don't want the media handing around here even if it is only for the summah.
Posted by: mom at June 28, 2005 09:24 AMOoooh, me likey the idea!
Posted by: jen at June 28, 2005 09:43 AMSure, move the capital every summer, and to a new location every year. We'll even provide directions (once you hit Baltimore, go east about thirty miles. Don't worry about the water.)
What would really happen though, is on June 1, every one in DC hits the beltway, by Sept. 1 they finally make it to the next exit, just in time to get off and return home. Anyone who actually is able to hit the interstate in the meantime has to deal with I-95. shudder.
Actually, it might not be a bad idea for DC bureaucrats to get out and amongst the people.
Posted by: rbj at June 28, 2005 09:48 AMPre- AC, diplomats used to get hardship pay for living in Dee Cee. Having grown up in NH, I thought I had moved to hell my first summer here. On the plus side, winters are laughable.
Posted by: LB buddy at June 28, 2005 11:28 AMLBB - I'm sure you, more than most, relish the annual panic around here at the first sign of a snowflake.
Posted by: Robert the LB at June 28, 2005 12:05 PMThe mere prediction of the white stuff brings on panic here. I didn't realize how bad it was here until I spent my first winter in NH and the schools NEVER closed. Heh.
Posted by: jen at June 28, 2005 03:25 PM Oh please God NOOO! It's bad enough up heah in Maine in summah time with all the terrorists, er, tourists and their Winabagos of Death cloggin' up the road.
I thought the object of Washington DC was ta keep all those politician-types in one place where we could keep an eye on 'em.
I vote for the Ross Ice Shelf. It's pretty hot Down East too, though of course people from Dee Cee would make fun of me for thinking that. Heck, how about moving the government to the Ice Shelf for the whole year? We wouldn't hear anything from them for the whole winter...
But really, if you want a summer capital, it should be out West somewhere. They need to suffer too.
