NOTE: Originally I wrote about this topic in the “Leave
the swamp” piece. I decided to expand upon the subject.
There are a
couple of ways to take the title. Try for the positive.
For a long
time I have believed that concentrating our government in one place just serves
to make a particular geographic location an attractive target for either
nuclear, conventional or unconventional weapons. It serves as a results
magnifier. This is especially true when congress is in session or during
inauguration.
We elect
people and send them to Washington. They may make trips back to their home
states to keep in touch with their constituents but they really become part of
the environment that they are surrounded with on a daily basis. They often buy
their million dollar plus homes in Washington while keeping only token
accommodations in their home states. (I don’t know if it’s true for all states
but in some they can rent a room in a friend’s house and satisfy residency
requirements.) Their families often get “Washington” related jobs like working
for or being lobbyists.
The reality is
that they become a part of the community where they spend most of their time,
where for all practical purposes they live. It’s where they shop for the needs
of living. Their home states are just where they return to, to get the votes
necessary to continue their new lifestyles.
In this age of
technology and instant electronic communications and big screen TVs why is it
necessary to concentrate people physically in the same location in order for
them to vote and make decisions? We have progressed way past teleconferencing.
Secure communications are not only possible but being used extensively in some
sectors.
There has been
a lot of talk about draining the swamp when it comes to Washington. How about
leaving the swamp? Break up the club; send them closer to the constituents they
are supposed to represent.
Congress could
be convened electronically as well as physically. Regions could be created that
would serve several states. Initially, military installations could be
converted to provide the secure meeting facilities for various regions.
Civilian meeting places could be built as well. They could be constructed with
suites suitable for elected officials who couldn’t make it home overnight.
(Elected state representatives have done this for years.) This would encourage
them to at least build their million and multi-million dollar homes in their
home states. This would create jobs in their home states. On a very positive
note it would bring elected officials home or at least closer to home. Close
enough to drive home on weekends and hobnob with the local people they
allegedly serve. They could mingle more with the hoi polloi and be more
accessible.
A Senator or
House member doesn’t have to physically touch people in order to meet with them,
though this might complicate things for foreign interests, lobbyists and those
from financial institutions who like to schmooze and party with elected
officials. There could be an increase in the number of lobbyists that would be
needed to cover all the various regions.
Meetings would
still be convened at the Capitol for those who wanted to continue being there,
since that would be one of the regions.
Major
corporations avoid having their leadership travel together so that in case of
an accident all of a company’s leadership wouldn’t be together. Our leaders are
already targets wherever they are. Shouldn’t they be spread out so that there
is less chance of large numbers being wiped out at the same time during an
attack or disaster? Obviously the number of potential targets would be
increased as well but the effects of a successful attack would be less
devastating. There are a lot of elected representatives in the line of
succession that should not be close to one other geographically.
There are pros
and cons to most changes but it’s time to change the physical way that the
business of democracy in the country is conducted. Dealing with the reality and
possibilities of the time that we live in is way past due. One thing for
certain—we need to make sure that the above scenario isn’t perceived as being a
possibility for those with evil intent.