# The District of Columbia: It ain't a state, is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-district-of-columbia-it-aint-a-state-is-it/346253 "2006-02-27T02:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-district-of-columbia-it-aint-a-state-is-it/346253/61 "2006-03-01T23:36:52Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You are apparently unaware that: 1) roughly 10% of the DC budget is federal transfers (that is, payments in lieu of property taxes), so the impact on property taxes hasn’t been a big issue for some time now; 2) the number of families in DC who live below the poverty line has dropped by roughly a third in the past ten years, and that the poverty level in DC is the same as that of Los Angeles County, although median income in DC is about 3% greater than LA’s; 3) DC has had budget surpluses for 9 years in a row. Then there would be no economic problem. This does not, however, add to the political issues which are the key. Thank you for providing this information. > [@](#): > > Actually, far from DC having the ear of key policymakers, serious issues in DC are routinely decided by people elected in faraway parts of the country who are not accountable at all to the people who live in DC. The most powerful elected officials with respect to DC politics are the Chairmen of the DC Appropriations Committee… who happen to be a Senator from Kansas and a Congressman from Michigan. Their Democratic counterparts? No, they aren’t from Virginia or Maryland… they’re from Louisiana and Massachusetts. Most of which live in DC half the year or more. In fact, I have heard the opposite complaint (that everything was being decided by all these Washington insiders) all too often. I’m not certain either has much validity. But in any case, I don’t think DC’ers have a good argument here. They do have a not uninfluential representative in the House, and that would be unlikely to change anything. What they really want, I suspect, are Senators in their pocket, in the hopes of adding two Democrats to that body forever. > [@](#): > > That means that the people of Kansas, Michigan, Louisiana, and Massachusetts have more of a say on local DC issues like school vouchers, the gun ban, and needle exchanges than do residents of DC. Yes, that would be the point of the Federal District of Columbia. To ensure that the National Government was not bothered by local officials anymore. This is a serious sticking point for me, because I’ve seen some very bad local officials in the past. And I have no trouble believing that someone like… him… would have any problem screwing with Congress or the White House to get what… he… wanted. As a State Governor, there could be considerably more power in… his… hands in that regard. > [@](#): > > I am not saying that you are not entitled to your views, but they seem to be based on a fair bit of misinformation about the actual circumstances in DC. Then I am happy to consider my views with additional information. Which has nothing to do with other posters openly stating I am unworthy to discuss their precious, precious city. Besides… I haven’t always lived in Knoxville… ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-district-of-columbia-it-aint-a-state-is-it/346253/62 "2006-03-01T23:48:54Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > What they really want, I suspect, are Senators in their pocket, in the hopes of adding two Democrats to that body forever. I am trying really, really hard not to go complete apeshit here, and I doubt I’ll completely succeed. No. What they fucking want is the same fundamental fucking rights as every other U.S. citizen who pays the same taxes as they do and lives under the same laws as they do – and that’s not to be excluded from setting the central policies of our country because they happen to own a house too close to the Capitol building. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-district-of-columbia-it-aint-a-state-is-it/346253/63 "2006-03-02T03:28:59Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > They do have a not uninfluential representative in the House, and that would be unlikely to change anything. So, I propose a trade: you get your choice of politician to represent you in Congress, but he can’t vote, you give up your senators, you give up 90% of the powers exercised by your city and state government, and I get one – just one – voting representative in Congress and a city council with power over local affairs. Fair trade or not? > [@](#): > > What they really want, I suspect, are Senators in their pocket, in the hopes of adding two Democrats to that body forever. There are some who believe that, but most DCers would be perfectly happy just to give our delegate a vote in the House. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-district-of-columbia-it-aint-a-state-is-it/346253.md?page=3)