Don’t concentrate government all in D.C.

Remember the snow we had in Washington, D.C., in early 2010 and how it closed everything down for a good three or four days? They were kind of up the creek without a paddle. The executive, judicial and legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) branches were stopped in their tracks.

The question then is, “What would we do if we had a large natural disaster or significant terrorist intrusion in the nation's capitol?”

With computers and electronic access to the Internet, wouldn't it make sense to disperse and decentralize our government in some form?

Obviously, the president, Supreme Court and Congress would remain in Washington.

How about the executive agencies (departments) like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense, Homeland Security and Justice, shouldn't they stay in Washington, D.C.? And, of course, the State Department must be available for the president.

But, what about moving the Department of Energy to, say, Dallas, Department of Interior to Salt Lake City, Utah, Department of Agriculture to Des Moines, Department of Treasury to Denver, Department of Transportation to Omaha, Neb., and the Department of Veterans Affairs to Kansas City. Spread out, through the nation, 10 or so departments and not have everything in D.C., essentially on the East Coast.

This would, of course, take time. Don't you think it makes sense to do so? Why don't we give the interior of the nation an opportunity to help and be of service?

David H. Burke

Cedar Rapids