[B]Move the US capital to Kansas City[/B]
 

Let's keep the lobbyists from becoming entrenched. Move the capital every 8 years to different regionally located US cities so more people can personally engage with their government. This will also benefit each region economically.

no bold for you!

not a bad idea, either. better yet, don't tell anyone where that city is.

Somebodies been reading their L. Neil Smith. That's a good thing btw.

How bout we just make the president move to a few different cities instead of taking month long vacations.

I think you'll soon discover the lobbyists are like Sioux on horseback compared to our Buffalo herd government.

Better to put a bounty on 'em, and let the DC thugs earn some crack money without harassing the citizens. :shotgun:

Steaks are better in Kansas City. It makes lobbying more appetizing or palatable.

This has been discussed in the UK as well. At least by me, down the pub anyway.

There are large bureaucratic offices that could be moved to cities with higher unemployment. Space isn't at so much of a premium outside London and everything from houses to beer would be cheaper for employees so their pay would go further.

Existing technology and communication mean that there is little difference in working 200 miles away as opposed to 2 or 20 miles away. In fact with the gridlock in Central London it's not as if you can just pop across the capital anyway.

And how much healthier for people to live closer to the countryside, or by the sea. And in the large provinical cites it's not as if staff wouldn't be close to familiar shops and facilities.

Ah well.

[wet blanket]You will lose any efficiency the federal government ever had if you have to re-staff the entire freaking thing every 8 years and train the new employees on what their jobs are. The lobbyists will still follow the money to the new government city. Each capital city will go through terrible growing pains followed suddenly by a horrible economic depression.[/wet blanket]

Any issues with security SG?

Nah. No-one is likely to target a bunch of Civil Servants. They're probably in more danger being based in London than they would be in, say, Blackburn.

And if anyone blew up the Department for Work & Pensions they wouldn't have to be found by the police - everyone receiving benefits anywhere in the country would be out with a portable gallows and a handy lynch mob!

Heh, let's see how Kansas City likes having no representation in Congress.

And the DC government would get some impressive new buildings.

I got to Kansas City on a Frid'y
By Sattidy I larned a thing or two
For up to then I didn't have an idy
Of whut the modren world was comin' to!
I counted twenty gas buggies goin' by theirsel's
Almost ev'ry time I tuk a walk.
'Nen I put my ear to a Bell Telephone and a strange womern started in to talk!
(Whut next! Yeak whut!)
Whut next?
Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
They went and built a skyscraper seven stories high,
About as high as a buildin' orta grow.
Ev'rythin's like a dream in Kansas City,
It's better than a magic lantern show!
Y' c'n turn the radiator on whenever you want some heat.
With ev'ry kind o' comfort ev'ry house is all complete.
You c'n walk to privies in the rain and never wet your feet!
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go,
(Yes sir!)
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
Ev'rythin's up to date in Kansas City
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
They got a big theayter they call a burlesque.
Fer fifty cents you c'n see a dandy show.
One of the gals was fat and pink and pretty,
As round above as she was round below.
I could swear that she was padded from her shoulder to her heel,
But latter in the second act when she began to peel
She proved that ev'rythin' she had was absolutely real!
She went about as fur as she could go,
(Yes sir!)
She went about as fur as she could go!

Dibs on the Pentagon. I could use the extra space.

But what if the people don't want to move? What if they actually like living in London? :confused:

It happened in the olden days... the king would decide to go to a different palace, and the whole court would come along.

Brianna..... :joylove: Do you know "I'm just a girl who can't say no"?

I don't think it would be that effective. The security would be the biggest problem, you can't just move that.

You've got me puzzled on this point, ph. How can you say the security is immobile when the president, senators and reps travel extensively?

Do you think that the the SS doesn't have a complete layout of Washington DC and know everyplace that a sniper could hide and every weakness in its infrastructure? They would have to rework the whole system every eight years or so, which would be a huge pain in the ass.

Alright, let's make it a permanent move. The seat of government should be centrally located in the country, not isolated on one coast.

That was the idea when DC was originally placed. It's irrelevant now, though. California congressman's jet lag isn't worth the hassle of moving...

The issue is bigger than relieving some congressional jetlag. It could impact the interests of the country's heartland, which are now largely ignored. If it was a valid argument 230 or so years ago, why then is the location of the capital unimportant now?

Because of global communications technology.

Communications are improved, no doubt about that. But it's still not the same as living and working there. The exposure to the environment and people would create a positive influence.

It doesn't matter where the capitol is, the same people will still be elected to go there. And it's not like working in DC made them particularly interested in DC's problems.

If Saddam can have mobile biological labs, then why can we not have a mobile zoo?

Somehow I think our moblie "zoo" will need more internal security than Saddam's biological labs.

True. Our's leaks more. Even a CIA agent in Kansas City would not be safe.

Obviously Saddams security wasn't too good - look where it got him.

Surge Kansas City!
 

OK ph, since you won't let the security thing go. I say the solution is "surge" Kansas City! That way, we'll make it secure for both citizens and public servants.

Couldn't we just outsource the Feds to Mexico?

Thats a plan!! And they can do it every few years to a different city - learning new tactics and practicing on different landscapes.

Haha, that could work but this would never get passed.

The only reason I would see the capitol moving is if America went through serious reformation. Washington DC is symbolic of the US and unless we switch the entire direction of the nation, Washington will always be our symbol and capitol.

If we did go through major reformation than Kansas City would be a good site but if we don't, there is no need to move.

Can you provide an example of the type of reformation or redirection that would have that kind of impact?

Two words, Julius Ceasar.

Something on that scale.

I have always felt the strongest symbol for the US is Lady Liberty in New York's harbor. Next for me would be Mt. Rushmore. Washington DC has never really appealed to me.

I'd be curious to know what US symbols rank highest in people's hearts and minds. What are yours? (The question is to all, not just ph.)

Just pull the lobbyists teeth... cut their legal budgets and NO gifts of any kind. Also, make it illegal for them to meet alone with reps.

Door open. One foot on the floor.

Skirts down, pants up, and come home from Congress in a group. :angel:

not a bad idea really, and with electronic commuting becoming more acceptable/functional (as proven and defended by our glorious leader during his many trips to crawford) .. then turn DC into a big museum. as to american symbols? the statue of liberty and arlington cemetary.

The Statue of Liberty represents the triumph of a democratic society over tyranny and corruption & the Arlington National Cemetery is a sobering symbol of the price paid. Two excellent choices - I agree wholeheartedly.

[cynic] hmmm... there is more to the Arlington symbolism, oppose the Fed Gov and we will confiscate your land and render it uninhabitable...[/cynic]

I wasn't really suggesting that the purpose of the move was for the benefit of the staff (is it ever?). Simply that there were some benefits if they did.

Oh, to hell with KC lets send 'em all over to Midlands UK.:rolleyes:

We're already a multi-national, multi-cultural region, what's a few more furriners?

And I'd quite like me a piece of wily American politician for clandestine meetings and sordid phone sex :yum:

Why phone sex when they'll be right there - ripe for the taking!

The Liberty Bell. I'm a big Willie Penn fan....

For me it is the Constitution.

Hmmmm, wrong again!
In my defence, this appears to be a personal vendetta and the spread of attacks shows that all locations are equally vulnerable (including London). But I am glad I don't work for a company that has anything to do with traffic at present.

The first three are quite understandable and probably justified. :D