On May 22, 12:09=A0am, Bob LeChevalier <loj...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> hru...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Herman Rubin) wrote:
> >In article <4st034pjcnhtpdpvttpsjd7t4git670...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> >Bob LeChevalier =A0<loj...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >>hru...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Herman Rubin) wrote:
> >>>>>Not really. =A0 They still have representation. =A0They can still
cal=
l
> >>>>>their congressman and ask for help.
>
> >>>>He wouldn't be THEIR Congressman. =A0With no vote, he is not
answerabl=
e
> >>>>to them and hence has no obligation to represent them.
>
> >>>Then those who vote against their current Congressman have no
> >>>representation.
>
> >>That does not follow.
>
> >It does follow. =A0For someone to represent you, he has
> >to agree with you, at least on key issues.
>
> Not in our system of governance.
>
> >>They did have the right to vote. =A0They may have lost, but they had
the=
> >>chance to exercise their right. =A0And they have the chance to vote
> >>against the turkey at reelection time, if he does not represent him
> >>acceptably.
>
> >You seem unable to distinguish between the right to
> >vote and representation.
>
> I merely am recognizing the historical meaning of the word. =A0"No
> taxation without representation" meant that the colonists did not have
> the right to elect a representative to Parliament, where taxation laws
> were decided. =A0The same argument is made today by those arguing for
> representation rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia.
>
> >I have been in a position as a representative of the
> >Statistic Department in which I did not agree with
> >the position of the department. =A0As a representative,
> >I felt I had to present the department's position as
> >forcefully as I could.
>
> That is one moral stance that a representative could take. =A0Others
> take the stance that they are elected based on their own views and
> thus are not compelled to represent views different from their own.
> And there are other philosophies of representation. =A0The voters can
> take these philosophies into account when casting their ballots for a
> representative. =A0Those not allowed to vote of course cannot, and hence
> cannot be represented.
As long as a citizen can send a letter for redress of a grievance to
his/her
congressman/senator, regardless of the voting status of that citizen,
then that
person is represented.
Our country is divided into congressional DISTRICTS. Once someone has
been
elected to represent that district, then everyone including the
children in said
district has a representative. Yes, children are also represented,
even though
they have no right to vote. It is the representative's job to see
after *their*
interests as well.


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