Also, while I'm spamming this afternoon

[wordplay]

(Really, I am sorry. But I think these all really sort of need their own posts. I'll stop now.)

Those of you who live in the District proper just don't deserve Congressional representation! Stop being so Democratic and black and stuff and maybe THEN you'll have voting rights worth protecting!

Between this and the Maryland court decision today, I'm just sort of disgusted with the whole lot.

Comments

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

There's someone in my apartment with a DC license plate, which actually says "Taxation Without Representation." I mean, I agree with the sentiment, but I was surprised that they actually print it on the license plates.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Yup, they're everywhere - for all the good that it obviously does. I find the whole thing so shameful and just horrifying.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

One of the many reasons I am leery of moving into the District, even though that's across the street and there are some condos that might possibly afford there, sometime in the future.

[gridlockjoe.livejournal.com]

When they make me the Decider, I will propose a Constitutional amendment:

For purposes of representation in the Congress, the District forming the seat of government of the United States shall be apportioned as if it were a part of the state from which it was formed; provided, however, that no district from which a member of the House of Representatives shall be elected may span the boundary between the District forming the seat of government of the United States and the State from which it was formed.

So DC would share in Maryland's delegation, but no Representative could serve in a district that covers parts of both DC and Maryland.

And you can share Senators too.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

So, I'm reading that, and what does that even MEAN for DC to share the MD delegation but not be served by a Representative? Like, I can't even parse what version of reality it would match.

Personally, I prefer exempting the District from federal taxes instead. Either that, or Congress should butt completely out of local issues; DC is mostly home ruled but Congress still regularly intervenes on some issues, mostly recently on gun control laws in the District.

[gridlockjoe.livejournal.com]

It would mean that when reapportioning Congress every ten years, the combined Maryland/DC delegation would get as many seats as a state with the same population as Maryland and DC.

So Maryland at 5,307,886 plus the District with 572,059 = 5,879,945 people would yield 9 representatives. (Which, I suppose, would be the same as if DC were counted separately).

Senators would be voted on and elected by residents of both Maryland and DC, and represent them both in Congress.

I hope it's clearer now; it's been a long day.

[riverlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, fuck. I hadn't seen either of those. Damn it all, some days just aren't worth getting out of bed.

Politicians, man. Just you wait till I get elected, then we're gonna change all this...