Statehood for D.C.

[Politruk]

Is there any good reason why not? D.C. is more populous than Vermont or Wyoming, and they're states of the Union.

 

[Politruk]

But if there is to be a new state of Columbia, it should not be limited to D.C. It makes no sense to have a state whose daytime population includes so many commuters, who pay taxes to a different state and vote in a different state. The State of Columbia should include the whole Washington metropolitan area, all the neighboring counties of Maryland and Virginia.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

But if there is to be a new state of Columbia, it should not be limited to D.C. It makes no sense to have a state whose daytime population includes so many commuters, who pay taxes to a different state and vote in a different state. The State of Columbia should include the whole Washington metropolitan area, all the neighboring counties of Maryland and Virginia.

It would still be solid blue

 

[Politruk]

It would still be solid blue

So much the better.

 

[Politruk]

It's not just D.C.: Every MSA (metropolitan statistical area) in the United States should have a single consolidated government.

And the 20 or 30 largest by population should be broken out as separate states of the Union.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

It's not just D.C.: Every MSA (metropolitan statistical area) in the United States should have a single consolidated government.

And the 20 or 30 largest by population should be broken out as separate states of the Union.

Every lefty’s wet dream.

 

[Politruk]

Every lefty’s wet dream.

What's leftist about metropolitan government? It's a matter of efficiency -- economies of scale -- one police or fire or sanitation or transportation department is better than a dozen. Also, every metro area is a single economic unit, and to lesser extent a single social and cultural unit -- so it makes sense it should be a single political unit. Only a metropolitan government is capable of any planning or vision on a metropolitan scale.

 

[Escierto]

The problem with these proposals is the MAGA party has a vested interest in the status quo. Their states would never agree to these changes which is why the country should be divided.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

What's leftist about metropolitan government? It's a matter of efficiency -- economies of scale -- one police or fire or sanitation or transportation department is better than a dozen. Also, every metro area is a single economic unit, and to lesser extent a single social and cultural unit -- so it makes sense it should be a single political unit. Only a metropolitan government is capable of any planning or vision on a metropolitan scale.

You know the answer. Your fantasy scenario would result in Democrat dominance at a national level. Too far-fetched to waste time discussing but enjoy the dream. lol.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

The problem with these proposals is the MAGA party has a vested interest in the status quo. Their states would never agree to these changes which is why the country should be divided.

There is no serious proposal.

 

[Politruk]

You know the answer. Your fantasy scenario would result in Democrat dominance at a national level. Too far-fetched to waste time discussing but enjoy the dream. lol.

Consolidating a group of city and county governments into a metro government would do nothing to change the residents' party affiliations.

 

[Politruk]

There is no serious proposal.

Statehood for DC by itself is a VERY serious proposal.

 

[Rebel5soul]

When hell freezes over.

 

[Politruk]

When hell freezes over.

To the contrary, it could quite easily happen.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Consolidating a group of city and county governments into a metro government would do nothing to change the residents' party affiliations.

Since you floated this in a thread about DC statehood and including the entire metro area as part of the state, I assumed you were proposing statehood for consolidated metro areas elsewhere as well.

If you think regional government entities bring efficiencies and economies of scale, take a look at how the 9 county Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Bay Area works. It’s a mess. So is BART, or ABAG. Or spend some time visiting the sprawling City of Los Angeles and its 3.8 million population. The last thing that disaster needs is more consolidation.

 

[Politruk]

See Cities Without Suburbs, by David Rusk.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Statehood for DC by itself is a VERY serious proposal.

DC statehood could happen if Democrats controlled the White House and both chambers of congress and national sentiment backed it. I’m not aware of any legislation advancing in any committees or any candidates at the federal or state level campaigning on it. Surrounding counties in VA MD would not consent to annexation.

 

[Politruk]

Surrounding counties in VA MD would not consent to annexation.

I'm sure they would -- it would make them big fish in a little pond. The states wouldn't consent to let them go and take their tax bases with them. And the Constitution says no state can be deprived of territory without its consent.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

I'm sure they would. The states wouldn't.

You think Arlington residents would agree to be annexed by DC? Lol

 

[Politruk]

No one has yet given any reason why statehood for D.C. would be a bad idea.

 

[ChloeTzang]

What is it with lefties and DC becoming a state. Congress first established the federal district by taking land belonging to Maryland and Virginia to re-apportion for what would become the nation's capital. If they want representation, just cancel DC and hand the areas back to the states they came from. Problem solved.

 

[Politruk]

What is it with lefties and DC becoming a state. Congress first established the federal district by taking land belonging to Maryland and Virginia to re-apportion for what would become the nation's capital. If they want representation, just cancel DC and hand the areas back to the states they came from. Problem solved.

Well, that would be Maryland only. DC south of the Potomac -- Alexandria, Arlington -- was ceded back to Virginia before the Civil War.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

What is it with lefties and DC becoming a state. Congress first established the federal district by taking land belonging to Maryland and Virginia to re-apportion for what would become the nation's capital. If they want representation, just cancel DC and hand the areas back to the states they came from. Problem solved.

Democrats would say no, it doesn’t solve the problem. In their eyes, the problem is there are not enough Democrat seats in the House and Senate, and the EC gives red states too much influence.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Democrats would say no, it doesn’t solve the problem. In their eyes, the problem is there are not enough Democrat seats in the House and Senate, and the EC gives red states too much influence.

Yeah, I know that's the real reason. I got the solution. Fuck 'em.

But we should split commiefornia, Oregan and Washington. Those poor states don't deserve to be subjected to Seattle, Portland and LA/SF.

We need a Constitutional Convention and a reworking of all the States, esp the ones with large cities which had nothing in common with the surrounding state. And while we're at it we could see if Alberta would like to signup. Canada should have been part of the USA anyhow, except for those foolish Loyalists.

And maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just absorb Cuba as another State. And maybe the Phillipines would like to rejoin?

 

[Politruk]

And maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just absorb Cuba as another State.

Cuba?! We can't even seem to agree on statehood for Puerto Rico, and that's been U.S. territory since 1898.