Majority Oppose Statehood for Washington, D.C.

[DonViejo]

July 15, 2019 at 9:25 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

A new Gallup poll finds just 29% of American adults support statehood for Washington, DC, while 64% oppose it.

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https://politicalwire.com/2019/07/15/majority-oppose-statehood-for-washington-d-c/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Then let DC be incorporated into Maryland or Virginia.

The city is without congressional, senate, and state representation.

[Recursion]

14. Would require MD's approval, and MD doesn't want us

The southern half of DC was receded to Virginia in the 1800s as part of the Missouri Compromise, but Virginia wanted that land back (it's now Arlington County and Alexandria -- good call on VA's part).

[Bettie]

2. They are completely without representation

that is not right.

[Aristus]

3. I don't think it should be a state.

The whole point of having a Federal district as the capital city is that no state could claim to be home to the capital.

I do, however, think D.C.'s Congressional representative (currently unable to vote) should be able to vote along with the rest of Congress.

[bottomofthehill]

4. Then let the residents stop paying Federal Income Tax.

Last edited Mon Jul 15, 2019, 03:21 PM - Edit history (1)

Taxation without representation is tyranny.

[Recursion]

15. And stop serving on Federal juries and registering for the draft (nt)

[MuseRider]

5. Do the 64% understand the issue?

Or are they just under the impression that D.C. is a liberal enclave?

My guess is they don't know what they point of it is.

[Amishman]

9. I think it's more the thought that it is too small to be a state

I know that is a big part of why I hesitate on the question.

Just incorporate it back into Maryland. Virginia's portion was returned in 1846.

[Recursion]

16. Maryland would have to want it. Maryland doesn't (nt)

[Nictuku]

6. Puerto Rico and DC should become states

... That will even things out just a little bit with the addition of 4 more Senators.

As it is now, Wyoming has the same number of representatives as California. This makes no sense! But short of changing the constitution, it is one way to help even out the senate. Just think of what we could do if we had 4 more senators?

[customerserviceguy]

19. Yes

Wyoming has the same number of Senators as California. That's not a bug, it's a feature. It was essential to getting the Constitution ratified. And it is always in mind when another state is being considered added to the Union.

You know how the Constitution requires super-majorities for some things, like a two-thirds majority for an amendment or for conviction after impeachment, or overriding a Presidential veto? And how it requires not two-thirds, but three-quarters of the states to ratify an amendment? Well, the number of Senators was so sacred, that you would need unanimous consent of all of the states to change the rule of equal suffrage in the Senate.

Forty-nine states are OK with California having a third Senator? Not enough.

The way it is now, is the way it will always be, we just have to live with it as we work around it.

[HopeAgain]

7. Anybody know why?

64% must include some Democrats. What possibly could be their justification?

[JI7]

10. when people don't know anything about something they are more

likely to oppose it.

my guess is many probably never thought about the issue before.

[pecosbob]

8. LOL...Politico...the poll was of Americans across the country...not D.C. residents.

Ironic, but we the voters of other states don't get to vote on that one. We can only urge our representatives in congress to take a particular position. They make the decision yea or nay.

I guarantee a local poll would show a majority in favor in both D.C. and Puerto Rico.

[StarfishSaver]

11. DC is becoming whiter as more whites move from the suburbs back into the city

As soon as enough white people move back to convince other white people that DC is no longer "Chocolate City" (its nickname acquired in the '70s when it became majority black), the opinions about DC statehood will shift, I'm sure.

[mcar]

12. Shouldn't it be up to DC residents?

My son lives there and he says there's lots of support in the district for statehood.

[pecosbob]

17. I expect there is...the poll was of Americans in general and not local residents of the District.

Politico sort of failed to mention that in the title before they passed it off to Political Wire. The link to Political Wire is simply a link to Politico with another of their slanted stories. The Rs are reading our blogs talking about four new blue senators if it can be done and blam, a new Politico or The Hill article is inbound telling us how unpopular it is and what a bad idea it would be.

[JCMach1]

13. DC, PR, VI, any place that does not want indedence

And had at least the Population of Montana at the time of statehood.

[LeftinOH]

18. DC has a larger population than Wyoming or Vermont. n/t