![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)


Just like all Americans, residents of DC
- Pay federal and local taxes
- Serve in the armed forces and make sacrifices in times of war
- Serve on juries to uphold federal laws and policies
Yet, DC residents are denied voting representation in the US Senate andthe US House of Representatives, and do not have complete autonomy overtheir own budget and local laws. Congress has the final say on DC's budget and laws.
In other words, residents of the District of Columbia have all the responsibilities of residents of states, but still cannot be represented in Congress. It is time to end taxation without representation.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-26 02:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-26 02:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-26 05:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-26 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 04:52 pm (UTC)Consider it a check on potential power, if you will. We have checks on the branches of government so they don't become too powerful and become the government. We have civilian control of the military so the military doesn't become the government. And we place our capital city in a district so no one state has additional leverage politically by virtue of hosting the capital...becoming the capital, instead of a state.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 01:55 am (UTC)But it's hard to say that it would be constitutional to make a state out of DC. The constitution forbids a state to be made from the territory of another state. D.C. was formerly part of Maryland, but Maryland ceded a section of its territory for the purposes of a federal district, which Congress administers according to its constitutional authority. Maryland didn't cede that land for the creation of another state, and I think a reasonable argument could be made that it's unconstitutional to create a state from it.
Interestingly enough, Washington DC residents used to vote for representation in Congress. The parts of DC that were once part of Maryland voted, and were represented by members of Congress who represented those parts Maryland before it was ceded to the federal government to be the capital. Same goes for Virginia. In 1801, Congress passed the "Organic Act" that stripped anyone residing in the district of their right to vote in federal elections. Of course, there were few people living in DC in 1801, so it didn't affect all that many people then.
I would oppose giving DC statehood status, either by directly admitting it, or by giving it voting rights incidental to statehood because I a) suspect it's unconstitutional, and b) don't think enough people live there to warrant giving them two senators. But I don't see why they can't be given representation administered as part of Maryland as they had before 1801. Congress could do this by repealing the Organic Act. It would then be up to Maryland to draw the Congressional district.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 04:56 pm (UTC)And as far as representation...we need to dissolve the Senate. Representation should be solely determined by population. The less-populated states might beg to differ, but it's the more (and more properly) democratic solution.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:17 pm (UTC)(And I just noticed yoru icon. Funny!)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:27 pm (UTC)When I write my federal representative, I typically get a form letter in return. He lives in a community far from mine. When I write to my state representative, I usually get a personal reply from him. I've seen him out in public within the community. He would probably remember meeting me a few times, as he lives in my immediate neighborhood.
The reason we limit the federal government to enumerated powers, and reserve the remaining power to the states, is because the states are closer to the people they serve. State government retains more local knowledge about the issues in their states. It's for this reason that I think it's important for the states to have representation in the federal government as states. It's a check on federal power.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:38 pm (UTC)I can call my representative on his cell phone (though more likely to e-mail). I've met and somewhat know the guy (enough to have gotten a birthday present or two, anyway). Not "friends" with the guy, but am familiar with him. On the other hand, I don't think I could even name my state representatives, and have certainly never contacted them. So, I've never really considered that perspective, I suppose. (I'm no Washington insider or born into a rich or politically-connected family or anything, either.)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 05:39 pm (UTC)Never let your account lapse. ;p
no subject
Date: 2007-04-27 02:01 am (UTC)