New Columbia, 2006. With Kerry in power seeking to gain more of the same for his party long-term, statehood for D.C. once again becomes an issue. Republicans put up a weakish fight but, because they are also trying to increase the black vote in the midterms, they give in. Suddenly the flag has 51 stars. Relevent article.
Puerto Rico, 2007. But the odd-numbered firmament lasts less than a year. Kerry’s initiative to bring a Democrat-leaning state into the Union was not a one-off. The Kerry Administration uses a carrot+stick approach with the Commonwealth to achieve its goals. While gently implying that it would work to cut PR adrift if it doesn’t comply, it promises a generous package of benefits if island leaders petition for statehood. Because the impetus comes from PR itself, Republicans are again unable to fight back effectively. 52 stars.
Cuba, 2010. After Castro dies in 2009, the statehood for Cuba movement spotaneously arises in both the US and Cuba. Cuba is seen as a generally positive addition to the US economy. Both parties think that it will lean their way. The current divisions in Cuba are accepted as is as counties. 53 stars.
7 States from Mexico, 2016. President Edwards in his second term seeks to broker a solution to growing instability south of the border. Both the Mexican economy and polity are in shambles after the PRI makes a comeback and cancels elections indefinitely. The Zapatistas have been growing in strength and civil war seems inevitable. Meanwhile, more people than ever are crossing the RG and blending easily in with growing Hispanic populations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Chinese premier says famously, “President Edwards, tear down this river!” With the border a de facto sieve and the pressure of the illegals on the economy now nearly unbearable, the EEUU and the crumbling government of Mexico agree to merge. The Zaps are thrown Chiapas to rule “autonomously” as a bone, and the other states are merged so as to form 7 states of goodly population. 60 stars.
P.E.I., 2039. One day it just becomes a state. 61 stars.
So you see, there will be many new additions to the Union within the next 50 years!
The more I think about it, the more I think Sam is right; Alberta is the obvious candidate. We could rename it North Texas.
I’ll accept that Quebec is no longer a grave threat to secede. In that case, my whole scenario falls apart anyway, so I withdraw my suggestion and change it to St. Pierre and Miqelon.
Washington is too small to be a viable state by itself. Too many of the people who work there don’t live there – they commute from the suburban counties. It seems unfair to tax them in the new state without letting them vote there. If we admit it as a state, we should admit the whole Washington metropolitan area – including, from Maryland, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Charles County; from Virginia, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Arlington County, and Alexandria City. This would be a great plan if the Virginia and Maryland legislatures could be persuaded to give up all that historic territory (and tax base). Every local government could continue on as before, including Washington City (which now would have exactly the same degree of home rule as any other major American city). The new state government would be in charge of metropolitan concerns, like running the Metro and possibly expanding it, and growth management.
Of course, what I’m describing would not necessarily be a “black” state. Washington is the only jurisdiction in the metro area with a black majority. That means the mayors and city council members of Washington-within-New-Columbia would still be mostly black – but the state’s senators would not necessarily be black. Would that render the whole exercise pointless, as far as the DC-statehood advocates are concerned? Is a guarantee of two black senators in perpetuity what they’re really fighting for?
BTW: Why call it New Columbia? There is no Old Columbia. (There’s Colombia in South America, but obviously that’s not what the new state is being named after.)
More BTW: I think the stars on the flag have reached critical mass. Any more and the firmament would start to look like an undifferentiated pale-blue. If we admit even one more state, we should jettison the tradition of having a star for every state, and go back to the original ring of 13 stars. Nowadays, nobody would read that as giving any special status to the first 13 states.
Barry’s core constituents, the Black and mostly poor residents of Southeast Washington, are totally immune from Congress’s attempts to punish the District for electing Barry (They’re already poor and already live in Anacostia) and, on those few occasions when someone other than Barry was elected, were never exactly rewarded for it. Elect Barry=summer jobs for kids, Don’t Elect Barry=more benign neglect. And chasing the white DC residents out to the suburbs just reinforces Barry’s godlike stature to his fans. He is un-oustable. He is also the biggest obstacle to statehhod. You want to see a congressman blanch, just say the words “Governor Barry.”
You mean like DC residents pay Federal tax without representation in Congress? Yeah, that is pretty unfair. Incidentally, the “Commuter Tax” wouldn’t increase any taxpayer’s burden; the surrounding municipalities would have to split the withheld tax with DC. It’s my understanding that New York City levies a commuter tax. And while DC is pretty small (and the proposed new state would be even smaller), it would be the fourth-smallest in terms of population were it admitted as a state.
The residents of the VA/MD suburbs have no interest in becoming citizes of some new, different state. Arlington and Alexandria spent enough time as part of DC proper, thnk you. And the states get too much moolah from Montgomery County (MD) and Fairfax County (VA) to make the idea attractive to them.
Prince George’s County (Just east of DC) is Black majority, as is the City of Baltimore (about 30 miles NE. Some demographers consider Washington and Baltimore to be a single metropolitan area; I do not). Here are the demographics for the whole state (PDF file). The Statehood Party has no designs on the surrounding counties.
There’s a Columbia, MD about 20 miles up Rt. 29 with a prior claim on the name. There’s also a Washington, VA, bit it’s really tiny. Anyway, the name is not a deal-breaker.
Yes, it is. But wouldn’t it be simpler to just let Maryland take over the whole city? Washington, MD! Then Washingtonians would have the same degree of home rule as Baltimore has, plus representation in Congress, plus representation in Annapolis, plus a voice in electing Maryland’s governor and senators. In short, they would have the exact same political deal as residents of every other major city in America. Nothing special. Or does the movement exist mainly because the Washingtonians want something special – a governor and two senators of their very own?
In any case, I like the idea of a metropolitan, multi-county state of Columbia because it might serve as the model for the creation of other city-state governments. We really need political consolidation of all our metro areas, for regional government and planning (and for a common tax base, so the well-off suburbanites have to chip in a bit to fix the problems of the inner city – which they would, then, also have a voice in governing, and vice-versa). And we’ve grown to the point where our very largest metro areas (i.e., Greater Washington and every metro area of equal or greater population) should be states in their own right. Imagine a new state of New York encompassing the Five Boroughs and the neighboring counties of New Jersey and Connecticut, plus Long Island and Westchester. (The remainder of New York State could be renamed the State of “Hudson.”) Greater New York is really all one community and the problems of one part affect the others; a new state government could address all those problems on a regional basis. Meanwhile, the state governments of NJ, CT, etc., now are freed of dealing with those urban problems and can concentrate on the very different problems of governing a mostly rural and suburban state. We could also make states of Greater Chicago, L.A., San Diego, and San Francisco, just for starters.
Here’s another thought: A state of Columbia, whether it included only Washington or all its suburban counties, would have a higher proportion of “political nation” people – politicians, bureaucrats, think-tank analysts, policy wonks, activists, lobbyists, journalists, lawyers – in its population than any other state in the Union. They would represent a good share of the voting base, and now they would have a whole new set of career paths to pursue, in the state government of Columbia. That might bode very, very well for the sophistication and efficiency of that state government, or very, very ill. It would be interesting to see which.
Few Maryland residents like the idea (I notice you’re posting from Colorado). When Newt Gingrich proposed retroceding DC to Maryland, several Maryland pundits suggested ceding it to Georgia.
PR has had a couple+ referendums, and the majority has always said “Commonwealth” and I see no reason for them to change. There is quite a bit of anti-“yanqui” feeling there, but not enough for them to give up the ride on the gavy train.
Cuba? Not until all the brainwashed kids have died, so that’s about 80 years from now.
Mexico? Again, a lot of anti-uanqui feelings down there, as “blaming the USA” is a good way to get elected, then it’s another good way not to actually implement any reform. Inflation? Blame the USA. Farm reform? Blame the USA. Drugs? Blame the USA. :rolleyes:
Oh my God! Are you familiar with St. Mary’s Today? Has that publisher always been so batshit?
Regarding your question: Maryland has considered the proposal (which, true to form, was made on behalf of the District’s citizens and not by them) and, after due consideration, declined. They have enough municipalities hemmoraging money at present and don’t need to add another. Ther is no upside to absorbing the District of Columbia.
I’m guessing an influx of mainland tourists will promptly commence paying market value for cigars, Cuba Libres, vintage 50s automobiles and Jacinta whores.
The problem with Puerto Rico is that twice in the last twelve years, when they have voted NOT to become a state, they have been given the opportunity to remain as a territory, which is a mistake, IMO.
When saner heads prevail than now guide government policy, we may once and for all abandon our century-old leanings toward imperialism, and decide to give up our territories.
In that event, I predict that Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, etc. will be given the opportunities to become states or independent ally nations, WITHOUT the option of continued territory status.
I believe it could happen in the next fifty years.
The problem is that they’re deadlocked on the issue. Some Puerto Ricans want statehood, some want independence. And, of course, if PR becomes a state of the Union it will never be independent, and if it becomes independent it will never be a state of the Union. Maintaining the status quo at least keeps their options open.
