The thing with DC statehood is that people by and large aren't actually familiar with the issue.
Years ago, I was in a bar in New Orleans, and the bartender asked where I was from. I told him DC, and he responded, "Oh, so like Bethesda?" Many Americans simply have no idea that DC is a real city with real neighborhoods and families that have lived there for generations. They certainly don't understand that it has a bigger population than some states, and no representation in Congress. I'm optimistic that if it actually became a serious national conversation, people would come around to the idea.
That said, I also think Maryland retrocession is worth considering. It's not ideal, but it's better than having to worry about the kinds of stuff the District has been put through under the second Trump Administration, or worse. And, historically, it's had some Republican support.
I think another distrust of the court stems from McConnell's very partisan actions to not even hold hearings to confirm Obama's pick, Merrick Garland, and his haste in confirming Amy Coney Barrett, as people were already early voting for president in 2020. McConnell did not believe partisanship should have its limits.
expand the Court to 19, create 19 Circuits (in place of the current ones with California and Texas each their own circuit), reorganize DCs with no single judge districts/divisions, and appoint many more appellate and DC judges. Plan for doing this in the first few months of a new administration. Add DC, Puerto Rico, and other territories as states. Assumes control of Congress as well (obvs.).
I think I’ve said this before, but this helps me understand why Democrats are often perceived as weak or not up to the job. They have been too comfortable with systems as they stand. But I like the word “reform.” It has lots of historic precedent, can encompass an array of needed changes, and can attract support from an array of voter types.
Respectfully, Puerto Rico statehood should be decided by Puerto Ricans alone. Non Puerto Ricans shouldn’t even be asking the question. The island was colonized by the US and from what I’ve learned don’t want to become another Hawaii. Bad Bunny’s entire Superbowl performance spoke to this.
The thing with DC statehood is that people by and large aren't actually familiar with the issue.
Years ago, I was in a bar in New Orleans, and the bartender asked where I was from. I told him DC, and he responded, "Oh, so like Bethesda?" Many Americans simply have no idea that DC is a real city with real neighborhoods and families that have lived there for generations. They certainly don't understand that it has a bigger population than some states, and no representation in Congress. I'm optimistic that if it actually became a serious national conversation, people would come around to the idea.
That said, I also think Maryland retrocession is worth considering. It's not ideal, but it's better than having to worry about the kinds of stuff the District has been put through under the second Trump Administration, or worse. And, historically, it's had some Republican support.
I think another distrust of the court stems from McConnell's very partisan actions to not even hold hearings to confirm Obama's pick, Merrick Garland, and his haste in confirming Amy Coney Barrett, as people were already early voting for president in 2020. McConnell did not believe partisanship should have its limits.
expand the Court to 19, create 19 Circuits (in place of the current ones with California and Texas each their own circuit), reorganize DCs with no single judge districts/divisions, and appoint many more appellate and DC judges. Plan for doing this in the first few months of a new administration. Add DC, Puerto Rico, and other territories as states. Assumes control of Congress as well (obvs.).
I think I’ve said this before, but this helps me understand why Democrats are often perceived as weak or not up to the job. They have been too comfortable with systems as they stand. But I like the word “reform.” It has lots of historic precedent, can encompass an array of needed changes, and can attract support from an array of voter types.
Respectfully, Puerto Rico statehood should be decided by Puerto Ricans alone. Non Puerto Ricans shouldn’t even be asking the question. The island was colonized by the US and from what I’ve learned don’t want to become another Hawaii. Bad Bunny’s entire Superbowl performance spoke to this.
Now, DC on the other hand, should have statehood.