TOPIC: What did you watch?

There is a growing movement to make DC a state.  It already has a population greater than or comparable to several states (VT, WY, AK, etc.).  The motto on DC's license plates is "Taxation Without Representation," since they are not represented in Congress (their rep. does not have voting rights).<br />

Eh. People in DC are always whining about the fact that they should be a state. Frankly, I wish they'd just put up an amendment to change the constitution or just shut the frak up about it. The lack of statehood is not some sort of arbitrary decision made by a bureaucrat . It's enshrined in the constitution and no amount of whining can change that. The only recourse is a constitutional admendment, which the DC whiners refuse to put forth because they don't think they can win it. If they had the civics education of a 3rd grader, they would know that.

Eh, we have enough states already. They do fine on the tax revenues from all of the fedederal government functionaries and lobbyists that reside and do business there. They have nothing to complain about. Wasn't their mayor the guy who got caught with drugs and a prostitute like twice or something?

Marion Barry hasn't been mayor for some time.  The 23rd Amendment gave DC the right to vote for president, but they can't vote for Congress, which is kind of egregious, since Congress controls DC's budget and many of its policies.  An amendment wouldn't be necessary for DC to become a state - Article IV simply declares that new states can be admitted thru an act of Congress.

I suggest you reread your constitution, especially the part about the federal district. It cannot be a state as the constitution stands because the congress has exclusive control over its legislation. Even giving it a say in presidential elections required a constitutional admendment. Based on your argument, an act of congress could have just changed it into a state, granting it all the rights of a state, which would be ridiculous.<br /><br />And ya, Barry hasn't been mayor in quite a few years now. He is currently on the city counsel, which just shows that the morons there shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Thanks for filling in my memory gaps. I keep telling people I'm senile but not old...I mean old but not senile, I mean...

How about just tacking DC onto Delaware or Maryland?  They're dinky states anyway, and could use the square footage.  <br /><br />Oops, just Mapquested, and it seems that DC doesn't touch Delaware.  Well, they'll all small, how bout one big Washingdellyland?<br /><br />

They ceeded the land to the federal government. I'm pretty sure backsies isn't a valid legal argument.  Also, since the federal district is enshrined in the constitution, it couldn't join another state even if everyone agreed without a constitutional admendment.

the Whole point of DC being seperate was that no state would have control of the seat of Federal power.<br /><br />Frankly if folks in DC want a vote for Congress... move out of DC.. it's based on Residence... and you don't have to live in town to work in town.<br /><br />as far as I'm concerned.. it's like las Vegas complaining about water shortages.  City in a desert, with little water?  Crazy!<br /><br />can I move to Phoenix and complain about the heat next?

Or an illinois resident complaining about corruption. I only wish that Daley had been swept up with Blagy. If the state is a sink of corruption, the city is a cesspit. The sad thing is (while I would never have voted for him) I actually thought Blagojevich was one of those idealistic straight shooters at first. I figured at least wouldn't do any major harm as governor. That'll teach me to give any democrat the benefit of the doubt. If he was trying to outdo ryan, he overshot a bit. Having underlings sell driver's licenses is pretty sleezy, but trying to pawn off a senate seat....that takes balls.

What's a mother to do?

The District of Columbia did not exist when the Constitution was written/ratified.  Article I, section 8, clause 17 gives Congress power to exercise exclusive legislation over such a district that would be the seat of the government's power.  That district eventually became Washington, DC.<br /><br />Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3 says new states may be admitted by Congress.  <br /><br />If Congress has power to make laws for DC, and it's Congress that admits new states, then Congress can admit DC as a new state.  It would not require an amendment.<br /><br />Class dismissed.<br />