i’m starting to think that actually, yes, it is – but it’s a cold war, not a hot one (yet).
i am in favor of getting rid of the filibuster, but i’m also actually digging Beau’s idea for it if they keep it. make two rules: 1) any filibuster has to be ON TOPIC, not reading the phone book or blathering talking points, and 2) if anyone filibustering makes a statement that is objectively ruled as false, the filibuster is ended.
What’s the significance of making Washington DC a state?
I saw reference of it in another thread recently but didn’t catch the drift then either.
Maybe not a shooting war, but when you see Viktor Orban’s Hungary touted as a model for the future of US democracy by various conservative talking heads folks should be alarmed.
Hungary’s democracy was subverted from within via changes to election laws, judicial appointments that ensured that challenges to such changes would fail, and later aided by state control of media.
This is the short version, wide implications & its many rewards for DC as a state are yet to be fully understood, as well Puerto Rico would follow soon after would be a foregone conclusion.
What is the purpose of making Washington DC a state?
The District of Columbia statehood movement is a political movement that advocates making the District of Columbia a U.S. state, to provide the residents of the District of Columbia with voting representation in the Congress and full control over local affairs.
Having DC become a state would add Federal House and Senate seats.
The assumption is that the representatives DC would send to congress would help counter those that seek to subvert.
If I remember correctly, DC citizens are able to vote in presidential elections but don’t have a senator to represent them- but if they did, that senator would most likely end up being a Democrat. You may be interested in this episode of the podcast Radiolab (or the transcript) that delves into the issue: Uncounted | Radiolab | WNYC Studios
It would be two senators.
Just want to second that recommendation. Excellent podcast.
Any time I see these…
…I cannot unsee these:
I think that the problem is that you might be able to out run the gunmen; but you might struggle to out run their bullets.
Remember that DC has 670,000 residents - more than either Vermont or Wyoming - and these people aren’t represented federally. Puerto Rico has 3.2 million U.S. Citizens who are also not represented - 20 states have fewer people. link
The problem is it seems unlikely that we can achieve any of those solutions offered at the end of this boingboing post with at least 2 democrats hell bent in obstructing progress. And I don’t know the whole process of admitting a new state but I don’t think the democrats could push that through even if they did have those 2 senators on their sides right? Isn’t there some sort of ratification process by the other states or something? Sigh. We’re really F’d. The only way we can get anything done is to elect a supermajority of democrats at a time when everyone is pissed at them for not being able to do anything. Catch 22.
Thank you @Papasan @eastern.hemlock @anon3894935 @gazenaro and @morcheeba
And I am starting to see Flags the same way I see sports cars*; the bigger the flag, the smaller the … patriotism. Oh, they’ll talk a really good game, full of enthusiasm and braggadocio, but when they whip it out … micro-patriotism, usually warped in some manner making it even more unattractive. Sure, from a certain angle, in the right light, maybe someone could be deluded into believing it’s completely normal, but not from where you’re standing.
* written as a 2003 Z06 corvette owner who regularly refers to it as the “midlife crisis mobile” and has considered getting a personalized plate of ABABSIS [Ain’t Big Around But Sure Is Short].
To borrow a quote, probably from elsewhere on the BBS:
In the USA patriotism means flying the stars and bars. In Europe it means providing a social security net.
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