In the summer of 1975, we first moved to a lovely old Georgetown home just west of Wisconsin Avenue. For a time, D.C. was the nation’s murder capital. Ironically, the lawyer who defended the Hanafi Muslims who seized the B’nai Brith Building in Washington in 1977, taking 150 hostages, was the judge who later married me and my wife — a telling reminder of the turbulent times then.

Nine years later we purchased a four story townhouse on the other side of Georgetown. And over the last 50 years, I have become increasingly furious about how both political parties have done their worst to prevent the nation’s capital from becoming one of the world’s greatest, loveliest and most desirable places to live.

Washington is none of those things. Why? This is more than outrageous and another sign why the government is failing. And perhaps things would not be so bad if Republicans transferred the $1 billion long-owed to D.C. that could bring the police force to its full strength of around 4,000 from the present 3,100.

In the wealthiest country in the world and in the most powerful city on Earth, Washington should have the best of everything. It does not because the Democratic and Republican parties have been incapable of governing the country and city with any semblance of competence, common sense and fairness.

Washington should have the best medical care, schools, universities and public transportation, as well as the safest and most sophisticated tourism, hospitality, police, research,........

© The Hill