From: wbrown@access.digex.com (William Brown)
Subject: Re: D.C. Statehood
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 18:40:16 GMT

In article <BxzC0J.GzF@unix.amherst.edu> ddsokol@unix.amherst.edu (D. DANIEL SOKOL) writes:
>How about just incorporating DC into back into Maryland and thus solving all
>of the problems.  DC gets its senators and congressmen and nobody has to worry
>about giving NY City and LA their own seats in the senate.
>-Danny Sokol
>Amherst College
>

   For one, we don't WANT to become a part of Maryland.  By the way, we
came from land donated by THREE states, although for the life of me I
can't figure what West Virgina donated.  D.C. has developed a political
and social structure completely different from that of the burbs, as we
call them.  A mojor part of that is the uniquely Black politcal climate in
the city.  There is no other city in America with such a heavy
concentration of Black elected officials.  Within 5 years of being
"incorporated" into an axisting state, D.C. politics will definately
become White-controlled.  Do you know of any OTHER metropolis with an
almost exclusively Black electorate, regardless of the composition of the
electorate?  How many cities in the South have 60, 70% Black constituents
and little or no elected Black officials? 
  We pay some of the highest taxes in the country here in the District. 
And yet we have no control over the vast majority of the prime real estate
in the city.  The current formula-based D.C. apporpriations bill in no way
compares to the ability to collect revenues from businesses in prime real
estate areas based on the open free market.
  We realize that you can't just completely treat the federal government
like any other customer (Mr. President, you're lease is up.  We're going
condo.  You're evicted...) :-)  On the other hand, the federal government
has not played fair with us, either.  They have given us NO say in how we
receive a large share of our money.  And there is simply NO reason why the
citizens of the District of Columbia should be the only natural born
Americans who have no Congresspersons or Representatives.  The Congress
of the United States has abused its relationship with D.C. for decades
(need a federal prison, put it in D.C.  Hey - they don't even has
Congressional voting representation - they can't even DO anything about
it!  Want to make a political point?  Tag a death-penalty rider on the
D.C> appropriations bill - after all, WE [Congress] determine how much to
give them for taking up their real estate - they have no say in it.  Hey! 
Let's outlaw abortion in the District.  After all, they have no say in it!)

WE WANT _VOTING_ VOICES IN CONGRESS!! Congresspersons give their
electorate a voice with _muscle_ in Congress.  We can complain all we
want, no one HAS to listen.  Were are OUR voices when treaties are voted
on?  Were are OUR voices when confirmation hearings are held?  During
military appropriations?  Denying D.C. Congresspersons denies us a vote in
Congress.  How would you like it if YOUR (anyone out there) Congresspeople
were told they could no longer vote?  That is our situation in D.C.

In addition, it should be flat out illegal for Congress to make local D.C.
law.  No other jurisdiction (except maybe the territories?) has to put up
with that crap.  Of course everyone falls under federal law, but only D.C.
is subject to lawmakers from OTHER STATES, who have NOTHING TO DO WITH
D.C., making LOCAL D.C. law when it proves a political point.  We need
control over our revenues, and our local law.  We also need a voice in
Congress.  WE ARE AMERICANS, living in an AMERICAN CITY that we love
(present company excluded - I hate D.C.)  D.C. citizens deserve the right
for self rule.  Period.  This country started its independence based on
opposition to the EXACT same situation - taxation without representation. 
How ironic that we continue that situation in the nations capitol.

Well, "Miss Manners" finally got his feathers ruffled.

And you thought I didn't get upset...

Hey, I don't even like the city.  But I REALLY don't like the lack of
self-rule.

I have yet to hear a valid reason why we should NOT have Congresspersons.


I'm outta here.

Peace.


Bill
    
   
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