basquebromance
Diamond Member
- Nov 26, 2015
- 109,396
- 27,014
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- #1
antics over DC statehood are fairly rich. It is a campaign to enfranchise the privileged, to give vastly disproportionate representation in Congress to the wealthiest and most politically connected city in America.
It's true. If DC became a state, it would be the state with the highest per capita income than any state in the US. The median household income in DC trails only one state: Maryland. Would Democrats really want to pass a bill creating the most privileged Senate seats and congressional seat in the country?
It may be unfair that Washingtonians have no voting representation in the House or Senate. But that can be fixed without giving them a sweetheart deal.
It is fair to ask why, if small-state residents such as Vermonters, Delawareans, Montanans, and Wyomingites get a congressman and two senators, why shouldn't Washingtonians as well? After all, Washington's population is greater than two of the states just mentioned.
But the fact is, those states were not expected to remain so small, and they may not yet. Meanwhile, whereas their statehood cannot be revoked without their consent, an established US state already has claim to the territory on which Washington now stands.
The population of the District, or rather, Washington city, is just about equal to one congressional district. If D.C. became part of Maryland, then Maryland would gain 1 district, and it would basically be made up of the former district. So then Washingtonians would have a voting member in the House.
They would also get the services of Maryland's two senators and fall under the governance of a state capitol, in this case Annapolis, like all other cities.
This is the exact same deal that every other city in America gets. Washingtonians deserve representation, the same representation as everyone else. But this attempt to create an entirely new state for themselves flies in the face of their city's history. Moreover, like the attempts to divide California into multiple states, it is a gimmick, an attempt by one political party to gain two Senate seats for free.
DC statehood will give representation to city residents and rectify a deep injustice
It's true. If DC became a state, it would be the state with the highest per capita income than any state in the US. The median household income in DC trails only one state: Maryland. Would Democrats really want to pass a bill creating the most privileged Senate seats and congressional seat in the country?
It may be unfair that Washingtonians have no voting representation in the House or Senate. But that can be fixed without giving them a sweetheart deal.
It is fair to ask why, if small-state residents such as Vermonters, Delawareans, Montanans, and Wyomingites get a congressman and two senators, why shouldn't Washingtonians as well? After all, Washington's population is greater than two of the states just mentioned.
But the fact is, those states were not expected to remain so small, and they may not yet. Meanwhile, whereas their statehood cannot be revoked without their consent, an established US state already has claim to the territory on which Washington now stands.
The population of the District, or rather, Washington city, is just about equal to one congressional district. If D.C. became part of Maryland, then Maryland would gain 1 district, and it would basically be made up of the former district. So then Washingtonians would have a voting member in the House.
They would also get the services of Maryland's two senators and fall under the governance of a state capitol, in this case Annapolis, like all other cities.
This is the exact same deal that every other city in America gets. Washingtonians deserve representation, the same representation as everyone else. But this attempt to create an entirely new state for themselves flies in the face of their city's history. Moreover, like the attempts to divide California into multiple states, it is a gimmick, an attempt by one political party to gain two Senate seats for free.
DC statehood will give representation to city residents and rectify a deep injustice
