DC statehood referendum passes

[Mr. Laser Beam]

We're not talking about some random piece of the United States, DC has a special existence.

But that's the point - DC doesn't need to have a special existence. It deserves to be a state just like any other.

What about individual state capitol cities, then? Do you believe they are special? If not, then neither is DC.

Like I said, Canada does just fine with having its capital in Ottawa, which is a normal Canadian city. Ottawa's not special, so DC shouldn't have to be either.

 

[Tenacity]

or they need to not pay any Federal taxes.

Good idea.

Ottawa

And was Ottawa in it's own separate special "zone" for over two centuries prior to it's current status?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ AFAIK, no, Ottawa never had any of this special zone or district crap.

 

[Squiggy]

And do a majority of US citizens want their Capitol to be a state?.

1. Doesn't matter, as the legal status of Adams-Morgan or Anacostia isn't really their concern.

2. I doubt most of them know it isn't and what that means.

3. The citizens of Iowa don't get to vote for mayor of DC.

It was really ironic a couple of years ago when all he Tea Partiers were protesting in DC waiving "taxation without representation" banners.

Keep doing backflips in order to justify 630,000 people not having a vote in congress though.

 

[MacLeod]

Good idea.And was Ottawa in it's own separate special "zone" for over two centuries prior to it's current status?

So what if it's been like that for centuries, times change. What's the counter argument for DC not being granted statehood?

 

[Lakenheath 72]

The Republican platform is for statehood of Puerto Rico, not for DC.

Here are seven reasons for why DC should not be a state:

http://wamu.org/news/16/11/07/why_some_dc_residents_are_voting_against_statehood

Here is an article about DC and Puerto Rico becoming states:

http://www.13newsnow.com/news/2016-election-statehood-movement/351339386

 

[Timewalker]

Like I said, Canada does just fine with having its capital in Ottawa, which is a normal Canadian city. Ottawa's not special, so DC shouldn't have to be either.

Ottawa is merely part of a very large province.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Washington D.C. becomes a state, wouldn't it become a state consisting of one city and nothing else?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Perhaps. But so what? The people living in that city deserve representation in Congress and to determine their own local laws, which they currently do not have. (Like I said, Congress can overturn anything passed by the DC local council at any time, so that council is effectively worthless.)

 

[Timewalker]

^ Perhaps. But so what? The people living in that city deserve representation in Congress and to determine their own local laws, which they currently do not have. (Like I said, Congress can overturn anything passed by the DC local council at any time, so that council is effectively worthless.)

Simmer down, 'k? I'm not criticizing or saying they don't deserve representation. I'm just asking for clarification.

 

[Tenacity]

Keep doing backflips in order to justify 630,000 people not having a vote in congress though.

Isn't pretending that becoming a state is the only way to accomplish that goal "doing a back flip?

It was really ironic a couple of years ago when all he Tea Partiers were protesting in DC waiving "taxation without representation" banners.

And that protest was aimed at the halls of government, not a residential neighborhood.

Becoming a new state is not the only way to achieve representation.

Perhaps. But so what? The people living in that city deserve representation in Congress and to determine their own local laws

Incorporating the non-governmental parts of DC into the two adjacent counties of Maryland would let them do just that.

 

[MacLeod]

Then why not ask DC residents what they want to become a state in their own right or be incoperated into an existing state. Given that they have voted to seek to become a state the frmer looks like what they want.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It's way past time for Puerto Rico to become a state. It's absolutely ridiculous that they're not. Hopefully this new governor will be the guy who finally makes it happen-- it's gotta happen eventually. DC statehood, I think, will be a harder sell, but I don't see any substantive reason why it shouldn't happen (although I don't see why they want to call it New Columbia instead of just Columbia).

 

[Squiggy]

Isn't pretending that becoming a state is the only way to accomplish that goal "doing a back flip?

Yeah - just amend the Constitution. Which wouldn't really help DC since they don't have a vote in Congress which is the whole problem in the first place.

And that protest was aimed at the halls of government, not a residential neighborhood.

Doesn't matter. They went to a location that doesn't allow the thing they were protesting against, all while not having the thing they were protesting against.

Becoming a new state is not the only way to achieve representation.Incorporating the non-governmental parts of DC into the two adjacent counties of Maryland would let them do just that.

Again, neither DC nor Prince Georges or Montgomery Counties, Maryland want that.

Aside from the word "state", why is it ok that Wyoming, which has less people - has a Rep and two senators and DC has none?

 

[psCargile]

They must be tired of swamphood.

 

[Squiggy]

(DC also wasn't actually built on a swamp)

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Germany has three city-states (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg). It's not unprecedented in world history to make cities into self governing states.

I had no idea until I researched it just now that DC didn't have any representatives or senators, or that DC residents couldn't vote for presidents until 1961.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Germany has three city-states (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg). It's not unprecedented in world history to make cities into self governing states.

I had no idea until I researched it just now that DC didn't have any representatives or senators, or that DC residents couldn't vote for presidents until 1961.

Don't forget Monaco, Singapore and Vatican City, which are not only their own states, they are their own nations.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Becoming a new state is not the only way to achieve representation.Incorporating the non-governmental parts of DC into the two adjacent counties of Maryland would let them do just that.

Maryland doesn't WANT DC back.

 

[Nomad V]

I have heard that if DC tries to go through with trying to earn statehood Maryland has the right to take the land back. I wonder how that would fly in Annapolis. Virginia has already taken back its land originally given to the federal government. That is now Arlington County.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Washington D.C. becomes a state, wouldn't it become a state consisting of one city and nothing else?

Works for Berlin.