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Should Washington, DC be made a state? Why or why not? (Original Post) Towlie Feb 2021 OP
Yes. I wonder how it will be governed? NurseJackie Feb 2021 #1
My son lives in DC mcar Feb 2021 #16
I'd guess it would be broken up into different cities. Darwins_Retriever Feb 2021 #19
Probably not zipplewrath Feb 2021 #2
DC has a larger population than WY and VT.. Callado119 Feb 2021 #3
And probably more expensive infrastructure zipplewrath Feb 2021 #4
Check out the demographics of DC. High incomes. Hardly a "very small town." spooky3 Feb 2021 #9
And extreme poverty Darwins_Retriever Feb 2021 #13
That is true too. Nt spooky3 Feb 2021 #20
A strong tax base edhopper Feb 2021 #12
Yes markie Feb 2021 #5
Yes JonLP24 Feb 2021 #6
Well that area would not be part of the state Darwins_Retriever Feb 2021 #14
I'm not sure JonLP24 Feb 2021 #23
Do the citizens there pay taxes? Ferrets are Cool Feb 2021 #7
No. aocommunalpunch Feb 2021 #8
What about Puerto Rico haven't heard anything about it becoming a state lately? Seems to me doc03 Feb 2021 #10
If we did, this is what would happen... jmowreader Feb 2021 #11
OK, let them try mcar Feb 2021 #18
Can't unless idaho agrees Darwins_Retriever Feb 2021 #21
You'd be surprised at the amount of support you'd get from Idaho jmowreader Feb 2021 #22
Yes* mcar Feb 2021 #15
why not, according to republicans mnmoderatedem Feb 2021 #17

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
1. Yes. I wonder how it will be governed?
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 05:57 PM
Feb 2021

Will it be governed and budgeted as a state? Or as a city? Or as a city-state? Will there be a mayor and a governor? Or just a governor? Or a mayor/governor?

mcar

(42,210 posts)
16. My son lives in DC
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:30 PM
Feb 2021

He says it would be a state with a governor, with one or two cities with their own usual structure. And, of course, with 2 senators and at least one house member.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
2. Probably not
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 05:59 PM
Feb 2021

At the end of the day it is a very small town in many ways and they probably could never generate the tax base to match their current funding.

But nothing stops an amendment allowing them at least a vote in congress and maybe one senator.

spooky3

(34,303 posts)
9. Check out the demographics of DC. High incomes. Hardly a "very small town."
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 06:15 PM
Feb 2021

There are multiple private companies, hospitals, law firms, consulting firms, and large universities located there—to say nothing of the tech firms, corporate headquarters, and many other employers in the surrounding area. Lots of revenue, and taxes, generated there.

Darwins_Retriever

(847 posts)
14. Well that area would not be part of the state
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:27 PM
Feb 2021

Constitution requires the seat of government to be separate of any state. So the mall, white house, supreme court, and capitol would not be part of the DC state.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
23. I'm not sure
Sat Feb 27, 2021, 01:08 PM
Feb 2021

This lawyer talked about the Bible photo op and DC statehood. He is a lawyer that lives in DC that seems to favor statehood for DC.



Also the impeachment manager from the Virgin Islands brought up problems from a lack of statehood.

aocommunalpunch

(4,223 posts)
8. No.
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 06:09 PM
Feb 2021

That would damage gridlock and the donor class can't have that.

Unless you were asking me, the idealist dreamer? Then, yes. Fucking yesterday.

doc03

(35,149 posts)
10. What about Puerto Rico haven't heard anything about it becoming a state lately? Seems to me
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 07:49 PM
Feb 2021

that would be more logical.

jmowreader

(50,453 posts)
11. If we did, this is what would happen...
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:07 PM
Feb 2021

The Republicans are NOT going to allow the Democrats to upset the balance of power in the Senate. If we were to make DC a state, which it should be, they would take one of their reliable states - Idaho would be a good choice - and cleave it in half.

mcar

(42,210 posts)
18. OK, let them try
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:31 PM
Feb 2021

I refuse to stop something from happening because Republicans might get mad and retaliate.

Darwins_Retriever

(847 posts)
21. Can't unless idaho agrees
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:43 PM
Feb 2021

Constitution forbids making a state from the territory of an existing state without that states approval. Actually this is an argument against DC statehood. The territory in question came from Maryland. And Maryland is not too gung ho about it. They recommend giving it back to Maryland. It will go to court if Congress and the President go it alone. Republicans will demand a vote by Maryland.

mcar

(42,210 posts)
15. Yes*
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:29 PM
Feb 2021

No taxation without representation. DC has been treated terribly by its governing lords. It's got a greater population than some other states. Its residents want statehood.

*Ditto, Puerto Rico.

mnmoderatedem

(3,706 posts)
17. why not, according to republicans
Fri Feb 26, 2021, 08:31 PM
Feb 2021

because it would put two extra Senate seats that would invariably go Democratic.

Same with Puerto Rico.

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