Washington D.C. Should Be Granted Statehood

Essay by nenanenaCollege, UndergraduateA, November 2007

download word file, 5 pages 2.3

A City, Mad as Hell and Waiting to EruptIntroductionTo many in Washington, D.C., there is no bigger civil rights issue that statehood. Unlike states, D.C. does not have a governor, state legislature or General Assembly, senators, or representatives. However, D.C.'s government is essentially run like a state even though it technically only has a mayor and city council. The city council is largely powerless as its budget and social policies are ultimately decided by the federal government (Eirinberg 6). The same can be said about the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam, but D.C. residents really feel the resentment of the federal government because they are U.S. citizens, meaning, they have no say in relation to the Legislative Branch. Many are left wondering, "How is this possible?"Over 200 years ago, both Maryland and Virginia ceded land for the purpose of establishing a federal-workplace area independent from the influences of states.

Today, this area of 63 square miles is more commonly known as Washington, D.C. The District of Columbia has become the home of our nation's capital and is now arguably the most important city in the world. Furthermore, the District has rapidly progressed into a multicultural center for the arts, sports, economics, and especially politics and government. Unfortunately though, D.C. may look, act and operate in a state-like manner, but its residents are still being denied constitutional rights as American citizens, meaning, D.C. has never had a voice nor vote in national policymaking, unlike those who live in states. This is extremely significant because District residents are feeling the burden of taxation without representation; quite the contrary to the words written on an antique parchment called the Constitution of the United States of America. But instead of granting D.C. the representation it deserves in both the House...