April 12, 2011
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Worth Getting Arrested For?
Last night, our mayor and several of our city council members were arrested just outside some of the Congress buildings! Oh brother…
So what were they arrested for? They were arrested for unlawful assembly, which carries a paltry fine of $50, which is so not worth getting arrested for. The mayor and the council members had been protesting some of the lovely policy riders of the new budget agreement that Congress is working on this week. Basically the policy riders allow Congress to meddle in DC’s money and how it chooses to spend said money. Some of the things included in the riders are the school voucher program, the needle exchange program, and city-funded abortions. If DC were a state, Congress would not be able to dictate what the city can spend its money on. Alas, DC does not have statehood.
Living in the DC-MD-VA area for most of my life, I’ve always been aware of DC and the issues surrounding the lack of statehood. Moving to the District has made me acutely aware of what issues not having statehood brings. If a government shutdown had happened this week, many of the District’s services would have been closed. No DMV. No trash pickup. No library. It would have sucked big time.
I don’t really understand what the big deal about DC becoming the 51st state would be besides the fact that we would no longer be a pawn for Congress… it’s so frustrating.
Even if the mayor and his compadres didn’t exactly get arrested for defending DC rights, they obviously feel strongly about the issue. It got me to thinking about whether or not I could think of something, some issue that I would be willing to get arrested for. I can’t really think of anything that I would risk being arrested for. I don’t know what that really says but what say you?
What would you be willing to get arrested for?
Comments (19)
Hm, you know, I have no idea either, lol. Wonder what that does say about us.
For stopping child molestors from hurting another child.
I cant say. i feel like if the time came i would know.
I don’t know. I guess it would have to be something I really felt strongly about… cause I like my freedom!
Nice to see you!
i am not sure. since i need my nurse license to be able to work so i would not want to jeopardize that.
I think defending a good friend or family member, or someone I cared about a lot.
Probably if I had to do something to protect my family – but I’ve never thought about this before.
I am someone who is not very brave so I normally toe the line. I guess the only time I might risk getting arrested if it is to save my loved ones.
I imagine that if I lived in DC I might well be willing to get arrested protesting for statehood. The only reason DC won’t become a state is because with its large minority population, Republicans are worried that the Senators and Representative would be Democrats.
I’m sure if the situation presented itself it would be one over which I wouldn’t have the luxury of debating whether or not I want to go to jail.
@Grtt - Yeah, all I know is that if I get arrested, I lose my job and would probably not be able to get another one in the same field. I kind of like my job so I want to keep it!
@tymedancer - That would be a good one!
@TheSecretLifeOfPandas - I think that might be my case as well!
@SamsPeeps - Yes! I’m not meant to be locked away. Thanks for the rec!
@buddy71 - My case is pretty similar. If I get arrested, I would not be able to have a job in my field. I’d be pretty upset! Thanks for the rec!
@leaflesstree - @ElusiveWords - @icepearlz - I could see that. I have a very, very long fuse but if it got to the point where I was ready to go off, I could be arrested trying to protect my friends or fam.
@christao408 - Ugh, yeah. I’m not sure it will ever become a state. Taxation without representation for forever. I wish we could at least have some real power in Congress. Most of our poor delegate’s power has been stripped recently!
@CoderHead - That would probably be the case for me as well!
Not sure…maybe for the sake of someone who is defenseless. If there was no other alternative.
What is the reasoning behind keeping DC not a state?
It seems in my mind that one of the biggest problems with making DC a state would be that our Federal government buildings would then be contained in a particular state, which wouldn’t be ideal. However, I think the solution is simple: Cut the federal district to the land in the immediate vicinity of the Capitol, White House, etc. Then I think DC could be a state without causing the problem of “How come that state gets the federal gov, thats not fair!!!”
For several reasons; 1. protesting against child abuse and rapists.
2. Voicing my opinions about my faith and religion.3. Racial prejudice. All close to my heart.
Hmmm. I can say the only things I’ve ever thought of doing that could lead to arrest were due to someone hurting my family, the thought of someone abusing my daughter, etc… and I’m not a “protester” sort… I’m a Dexter sort… remote place, dead, many pieces, road trip to spread them….. so if I ever go to jail, it’ll be for something really really worth it, not holding a picketing sign.
I don’t know if there is something I’m willing to get arrested for.
This is a tough one. Having been arrested, I don’t think you know the answer until you’ve experienced it.
48 hrs in a holding cell is no joke.
The rest of it was no fun either.
It certainly does not make your family happy.
But if there’s no other way… heck no. I think I’d do everything in my power to avoid doing that again.
I never ever read such type of info before this was really incredible.
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