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Michael, the example you gave in the “people versus citizens” argument for Congressional representation is fatally flawed. Your children deserve representation yes, but they are citizens. You offered them as support for the “people” argument. That was incorrect.
Obviously I don’t agree. Congress doesn’t just legislate. It serves. Serving its constituents isn’t just serving voters or citizens. College students from elsewhere, for example, get help/information/use services through the congressman who represents that school’s district.
We can pretend the non-voting residents of a district don’t exist, but they’re going to be there, doing things and costing money, anyway.
I thought the exact same thing. Additionally, non-citizens have an advocate in the country of residence via their home embassy. They have no political power per their host nation and shouldn’t.
If a congressman for everyone else knows his/her district has a lot of non-citizens, he can take that into account for budgets, but he shouldn’t have his district size shaped by these people. He doesn’t represent them.
By the way, when I was a tax payer in England with a kid in school, I had no say on those taxes. If i had a complaint about my district? I didn’t go to the local MP. He/she would’ve told me to suck it.
I don’t think you’re paying attention. This isn’t agree or disagree, this is fact error. Your children are citizens. They are not examples to support the “people” side of the “people v. citizens” argument.
Citizens. Your kids are citizens, not just non-voting, non-citizen residents.
Let’s face it, ANYONE can be President now. No experience or qualifications required. Just tell ’em what they want to hear.
Each Congressman represents 700,000 people.
Yeah, I was doing the math on the fly. Thanks for that fact! I will use it (un) wisely.
Does anyone buy from advertisers who interrupt out Facebook and browsing experiences? Me – no way!
I do think it’s important to know the number of people living in a district because services are used. I just don’t think they should determine district boundaries. Let the Congressman represent 700,000 citizens because he/she doesn’t listen to the non citizens on any count.
That’s just my opinion though. (Truth is, no one listens to ME including my Congressman!!! :). )