What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
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What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
I've heard multiple viewpoints on the subject, and was curious what was thought of it here.
EDIT: fixed title
EDIT: fixed title
Last edited by Qwerty 42 on 2007-12-17 11:04pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
Why should DC be a state? It's just a metropolitan area built on swampland.
Many of those islands we own in the Caribbean and the Pacific are far more deserving for statehood status.
The only complication I can think of is the Virgin Islands, we only own half of the chain, so we'd have to "acquire" the other half from the Brits.
Other than that we could try and build on those Pro US annexation groups in Britain and Canada, it'd be quite a challenge what with the current negative view of America but the long term benefits would be worth it.
Many of those islands we own in the Caribbean and the Pacific are far more deserving for statehood status.
The only complication I can think of is the Virgin Islands, we only own half of the chain, so we'd have to "acquire" the other half from the Brits.
Other than that we could try and build on those Pro US annexation groups in Britain and Canada, it'd be quite a challenge what with the current negative view of America but the long term benefits would be worth it.
If Wyoming gets to be a state, so does Washington DC.
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I have no problem with statehood for DC. They deserve the Congressional respresentation. I'd have no issue with giving any other US terrirotry statehood either.
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Re: What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
Because it has a larger population than some US states, yet has no Congressional representation?FedRebel wrote:Why should DC be a state? It's just a metropolitan area built on swampland.
Really? Do any of them exist within the continental United States? Do any of the want statehood?Many of those islands we own in the Caribbean and the Pacific are far more deserving for statehood status.
Right, it's not like we could just make a state out of the territory we currently possess or combine them into a state with Puerto Rico or anything.The only complication I can think of is the Virgin Islands, we only own half of the chain, so we'd have to "acquire" the other half from the Brits.
You're an idiot.Other than that we could try and build on those Pro US annexation groups in Britain and Canada, it'd be quite a challenge what with the current negative view of America but the long term benefits would be worth it.
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I think the main question is: who would the good people of DC vote for if they were made a state? And since the GOP has not touted the idea in their eight years of power, I doubt it is them. We'll have to see a change of government before it can get enacted.
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It would vote overwhelmingly Democratic. I dunno the process for admitting new states, though. I assume it's a simple majority vote and Presidential signing, thoughUbiquitous wrote:I think the main question is: who would the good people of DC vote for if they were made a state? And since the GOP has not touted the idea in their eight years of power, I doubt it is them. We'll have to see a change of government before it can get enacted.
Does Washington D.C. have any special designation in the US Constitution? I assume it does, considering the fact that it has 2 electoral votes. If it does have some special status, then the Constitution would have to be amended.
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So give most of the land back to Maryland and Virginia and keep the area around capitol hill and the white house as a federal reserve.Flagg wrote:I have no problem with statehood for DC. They deserve the Congressional respresentation. I'd have no issue with giving any other US terrirotry statehood either.
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That's an option, but DC has it's own identity and I see no reason not to just allow them status as their own State. They already have electoral college votes.Aeolus wrote:So give most of the land back to Maryland and Virginia and keep the area around capitol hill and the white house as a federal reserve.Flagg wrote:I have no problem with statehood for DC. They deserve the Congressional respresentation. I'd have no issue with giving any other US terrirotry statehood either.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
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He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
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You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
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Re: What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
Don't make me laugh, the groups that are in favour of unification with the US (at least in Canada) are so far right of the spectrum that they make the GOP look like the NDP. And the average Canadian wants nothing to do with joining , just one of the many things we'd have to give up would be universal healthcare. What exactly would we get in return that's worth it?FedRebel wrote:
Other than that we could try and build on those Pro US annexation groups in Britain and Canada, it'd be quite a challenge what with the current negative view of America but the long term benefits would be worth it.
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The votes give the population representation already. As to why not a state, because its the national capitol to make it both that and a state would look like it was raised above the other states. Even though that would not be true in fact the symbolism would be very obvious and for that reason alone the other states would be against it.Flagg wrote:That's an option, but DC has it's own identity and I see no reason not to just allow them status as their own State. They already have electoral college votes.Aeolus wrote:So give most of the land back to Maryland and Virginia and keep the area around capitol hill and the white house as a federal reserve.Flagg wrote:I have no problem with statehood for DC. They deserve the Congressional respresentation. I'd have no issue with giving any other US terrirotry statehood either.
Add to that the fact that as a state it would be Democratic and therefore to insure enough votes to grant statehood you would have to find republican state to join as well. As was the tradition before the civil war.
For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;
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Re: What do you think of District of Columbia statehood?
Lots and lots of guns.Cpl Kendall wrote:Don't make me laugh, the groups that are in favour of unification with the US (at least in Canada) are so far right of the spectrum that they make the GOP look like the NDP. And the average Canadian wants nothing to do with joining , just one of the many things we'd have to give up would be universal healthcare. What exactly would we get in return that's worth it?FedRebel wrote:
Other than that we could try and build on those Pro US annexation groups in Britain and Canada, it'd be quite a challenge what with the current negative view of America but the long term benefits would be worth it.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
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You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
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In electing a President, not in electing members of congress.Aeolus wrote:The votes give the population representation already.Flagg wrote:That's an option, but DC has it's own identity and I see no reason not to just allow them status as their own State. They already have electoral college votes.Aeolus wrote: So give most of the land back to Maryland and Virginia and keep the area around capitol hill and the white house as a federal reserve.
So we should deny those people the congressional reprsentation that would be gained by statehood because other states wouldn't like it? That's retarded.As to why not a state, because its the national capitol to make it both that and a state would look like it was raised above the other states. Even though that would not be true in fact the symbolism would be very obvious and for that reason alone the other states would be against it.
Not if you have a Democratic congress and President you wouldn't.Add to that the fact that as a state it would be Democratic and therefore to insure enough votes to grant statehood you would have to find republican state to join as well. As was the tradition before the civil war.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
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DC already has representation in Congress and the Senate, they just don't get a vote.
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Meaning they have no representation in Congress.CaptainChewbacca wrote:DC already has representation in Congress and the Senate, they just don't get a vote.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
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The representative from DC can sit on and even chair congressional committies, and can speak on all issues. That's not nothing.Flagg wrote:Meaning they have no representation in Congress.CaptainChewbacca wrote:DC already has representation in Congress and the Senate, they just don't get a vote.
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It's not a vote. That's where the power lies.CaptainChewbacca wrote:The representative from DC can sit on and even chair congressional committies, and can speak on all issues. That's not nothing.Flagg wrote:Meaning they have no representation in Congress.CaptainChewbacca wrote:DC already has representation in Congress and the Senate, they just don't get a vote.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
-George Bernard Shaw
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
-George Bernard Shaw
On this issue what the states want does matter. They would tell their reps to vote against. Even if all the democratic reps disobeyed and voted for (very unlikely)they would have a very hard time getting past the fillibuster and every other road block the republicans would throw at them. The only way around that is find a second state to let in to balance it out.Flagg wrote:In electing a President, not in electing members of congress.Aeolus wrote:The votes give the population representation already.Flagg wrote: That's an option, but DC has it's own identity and I see no reason not to just allow them status as their own State. They already have electoral college votes.
So we should deny those people the congressional reprsentation that would be gained by statehood because other states wouldn't like it? That's retarded.As to why not a state, because its the national capitol to make it both that and a state would look like it was raised above the other states. Even though that would not be true in fact the symbolism would be very obvious and for that reason alone the other states would be against it.
Not if you have a Democratic congress and President you wouldn't.Add to that the fact that as a state it would be Democratic and therefore to insure enough votes to grant statehood you would have to find republican state to join as well. As was the tradition before the civil war.
If you really believe they need representation in congress the easiest way would be to give the land back to Maryland and Virginia. That avoids the unacceptable symbolism and a lot of the entrenched political opposition.
For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;
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The last thing we need is another state that’s already fucked to hell and back. Heck didn’t Congress take back some of the local governing power it had passed down, because the place was being run so poorly? Puerto Rico should be kicked out on its ass.
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I'd like to see some other us territories get statehood. Puerto Rico could become a swing state in short order, with 23 electoral votes. Guam and the Marshall Islands less so, though.
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DC should not be a state. It was created as the nations capital specifically to avoid rivalry and tension amongst the various states back in the 1790s. Being home to the seat of government is a greater honor than statehood, at least as far as I'm concerned. This was realized by the founders of this nation over 200 years ago, and there isn't any reason to change it.
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You mean other than the people who live there who don't have Congressional votes?Darth Massacrus wrote:DC should not be a state. It was created as the nations capital specifically to avoid rivalry and tension amongst the various states back in the 1790s. Being home to the seat of government is a greater honor than statehood, at least as far as I'm concerned. This was realized by the founders of this nation over 200 years ago, and there isn't any reason to change it.
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