Draining the Swamp has long been a topic closely related to what is also called the DC or Beltway Bubble or as I like to call it Fantasia Land on the Potomac or FLOP (for the acronyms they like so much).
The characteristics of FLOP are decidedly Democratic in nature. This is not too surprising given the fact that Democrats are the party of bigger government. The people who live there and many of the surrounding areas are either politicians, federal employees, business owners, or lobbyists whose financial well-being depends on a bigger government. Within this geographic area you can count on approximately 95% Democratic constituents voting to maintain bigger government and jury pools with the same leanings.
My suggestion for consideration is that the Federal Government be dispersed throughout the states, department by department to rural areas. We could refer to this as ‘small town USA’. After the next election, and some trimming of excess bureaucracy currently log-jamming efficiency the remaining departments would be relocated getting them out of the bubble and into reality land to see how the communities live and survive.
Elected Congressmen and Senators will continue to meet, when necessary, in the halls of congress, but for the most part they will live in their local communities and home. If this last year is indicative of their ‘actual’ work schedule in Washington, 120 days were how many days the Congress was in session. That would leave them back home to poll and speak to their constituents 243 days.
The President and Vice President would continue to reside and work in Washington DC, but for the most part it will become what most see it as now, a tourist spot, showplace for visiting foreign dignitaries and National Monument.
The FBI wants a new headquarters I hear. May I suggest placing it in say Lebanon, Kansas the geographic center point of the contiguous 48 states. As the FBI already has satellite offices in most states that house local agents. This will centralize the Headquarters and get them out of the ‘bubble’.
The Department of the Interior, which I think oversees the National Parks could be located say in Yellowstone National Park, Montana.
The Department of Energy could be placed in say Roby, Texas among the numerous oil wells in that part of the Lone Star State.
These are just a few ideas on spreading out the Federal Government to appropriate places related to their mission.
I do not have a monopoly on these ideas, let’s hear from the rest of you. Certain departments like education, welfare and such should be returned to the States where according to the 10th Amendment they should have remained.