Cobalt, actually, I have been following the DC discussion (and even offered comments on the DC schools as a result of one of your earlier posts -- virtually the same comments, by the way, that the Post published not too long ago as a response to some horse s*** written by Colbert King). I also joined in making comments re. "world class city" status for DC, yesterday.
Forgive me for overlooking your residence and eligibility for DC government employment (no sarcasm intended).
I know what "no little thanks to Congress" means. I'm all for casting blame (at least, "in part") on governments. That said, the citizens of DC must accept much of the blame themselves.
They are the ones who trash the housing, they are they ones who dare their peers to achieve in school, they are the ones who commit the crimes and they are the ones who make the babies.
I sense some deliberate ambiguity on your part in referring to "DC" one minute, "here" the next -- with sprinkles of the "area", the "'burbs", etc. Perhaps one of the Dictionary People can assist.
You don't actually say exactly what it is that you, Joan, Neocon and Lather agree on. In any case, since none of you seem to live or work in DC, why should the rest of us be "outsiders".
I admit to never having lived in DC or environs but have spent big chunks of my life "being there." I have lifelong friends who are longtime residents, including my brother.
Also, Cobalt, since it is DC, many of us believe it's partly our city too. My view is that all the great museums, monuments and natural beauty in the world don't keep our national city from being a disgraceful place in human terms. If environmental authorities cared as much about human neighborhoods as the ones found in muddy puddles they'd have to kick some a** in DC. |
