Two-Thirds Of Americans Oppose DC Statehood

[Frodo]

Even among self-described liberals and Democrats, support for statehood does not come close to 50%:

Majority of Americans opposes DC statehood: poll

[OSR stands with Israel]

Just merge it with Maryland

[Gass3268]

Democrats better slam this through Congress the next time they have the majority. You know that Republicans would if they had a similar situation.

Just merge it with Maryland

Both Maryland and DC don't want that.

[7,052,770]

But what percentage believe that all American citizens should be represented in Congress? Probably overwhelming supermajorities in both parties.

[Gass3268]

But what percentage believe that all American citizens should be represented in Congress? Probably overwhelming supermajorities in both parties.

Unless you tell them that a majority of those citizens are black, in which case Republicans would be okay with the status quo.

[Green Line]

Don't mess with the symmetry of the fleg.

[Koharu]

Don't mess with the symmetry of the fleg.

Add Puerto Rico and we can have four rows of thirteen stars! Perfect!

Of course, reality would probably be 8 rows of alternating 6 and 7, but symmetry doesn't have to be doomed!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Don't mess with the symmetry of the fleg.

Add Puerto Rico and we can have four rows of thirteen stars! Perfect!

Then you can play with a full deck of cards.

[darklordoftech]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

[Green Line]

Don't mess with the symmetry of the fleg.

Add Puerto Rico and we can have four rows of thirteen stars! Perfect!

Of course, reality would probably be 8 rows of alternating 6 and 7, but symmetry doesn't have to be doomed!

😡

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

Don't mess with the symmetry of the fleg.

51 is divisible by 17 - have six rows where rows alternate between nine and eight. Still bilaterally symmetrical.

But what percentage believe that all American citizens should be represented in Congress? Probably overwhelming supermajorities in both parties.

Unless you tell them that a majority of those citizens are black, in which case Republicans would be okay with the status quo.

It'd be so fascinating to ask respondents about DC statehood while flashing various pictures of high profile residents of/people associated with the district. E.g., show them a picture of Muriel Bowser when asking, or some famous athletes, or Trump, etc. and compare with pictures of monuments or famous buildings there.

[Koharu]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

Change is scary.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

4 rows of 13 stars would look god awful.

The 23rd Amendment would be left hanging really awkwardly. I’ve heard some proposals of having Congress instruct the rump district to give its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote, but that seems like putting chewing gum in a leaking dam.

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 1 of the 23rd Amendment

I’d welcome them and Puerto Rico if majorities in said territories support their entrance.

[7,052,770]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

Most of them probably don't realize that it doesn't have representation in Congress. (Or have never even considered the question of whether they do.)

[Hammy]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

Because the word "liberal" has lost any real meaning and most who call themselves such, aren't.

[cvparty]

it’s kind of sad how they have no real representation in congress

[Indy Texas]

Big deal.

Nobody asked Americans if they felt like America needed two Dakotas instead of one, but the Republicans admitted two so they could get four Senate seats out of the deal.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Big deal.

Nobody asked Americans if they felt like America needed two Dakotas instead of one, but the Republicans admitted two so they could get four Senate seats out of the deal.

Lmao

[Storr]

Big deal.

Nobody asked Americans if they felt like America needed two Dakotas instead of one, but the Republicans admitted two so they could get four Senate seats out of the deal.

The story statehood for the Dakotas is such a crazy story. Imagine the media frenzy today if one party split a territory in two at the time of admittance for blatantly political purposes.

Personally I support statehood. Though, I feel the most important factor is DC's lack of representation in Congress. If a deal was made to give DC real congressional representation (presumably one congressional representative and 2 Senators), without official statehood (to avoid Constitutional issues, for example); I'd be okay with that. This is especially since DC essentially has its own "state" government in the city government.

[Virginiá]

https://twitter.com/alanzilberman/status/1150748730750066688

One of those issues where context does matter because the campaign for DC statehood would very much center around their lack of representation.

Either way, it doesn't really matter imo. They deserve representation one way or another, and statehood remains the easiest method to achieve that, so it should be done regardless. I'm sure the very deep and important reasons of people across the country, with no ties or stake in Washington DC, not wanting DC to be a state are more important than American tax-paying citizens having the same representation as everyone else. Surely!

Not that I think these numbers reflect the actual level of support for DC statehood once people understand the situation, but it's always very fascinating to me how people can be so gung-ho about democracy and voting, and then quickly become very picky and/or indifferent to giving American citizens who lack those same rights when the issue comes up. It's the "I got mine, so f you" syndrome hard at work. I feel no shame in saying that I don't care what the rest of the country thinks about this. If the Democratic Party has the opportunity to do it, just ram it through, and non-DC metro area people will get used to it, because it's not really something that they probably care that much about anyway.

[cinyc]

But what percentage believe that all American citizens should be represented in Congress? Probably overwhelming supermajorities in both parties.

Unless you tell them that a majority of those citizens are black, in which case Republicans would be okay with the status quo.

DC is only plurality African-American as of the last Census estimates, and there's a chance it will be plurality white after the 2020 Census. Gentrification there is very real.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

What's surprising about the people of one State not wanting the national capital to be part of another State?

[Mr. Reactionary]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

Probably because literal "statehood" for a city (a city supposed to be for all 50 states) doesn't make sense. Yes, it gets it voting representation which Im not opposed to ... but actual statehood for a city is dumb. If this poll was flawed for not being a push polls telling respondents about the poor plight of DC then its also flawed for not presenting voting representation without statehood as an option.

[emailking]

I think the residents need Representation in Congress (both houses). I'd be fine with either statehood or merging with other states.

I don't really care about the flag. Just leave it the way it is. The stars can just represent the many states. Who cares if it's the exact number.

[Santander]

Why would the majority of Democrats/liberals oppose DC statehood?

Probably because literal "statehood" for a city (a city supposed to be for all 50 states) doesn't make sense. Yes, it gets it voting representation which Im not opposed to ... but actual statehood for a city is dumb. If this poll was flawed for not being a push polls telling respondents about the poor plight of DC then its also flawed for not presenting voting representation without statehood as an option.

This is the most important point. DC is the capital district of a massive, sprawling federal democracy, which must not belong to any single state. (you see a similar setup in other countries with strong federalism, such as Brazil and Australia) When it comes to Constitutional issues, you have to do things right, not just whatever's expedient.

I am also not opposed to voting representation, but statehood is the wrong solution to the problem. DC statehood means that one (sovereign) state will have control over the infrastructure, laws, and planning, and thus undue influence and control, of the national capital, which is a place that exists solely do the work of all 50 states. (the rump DC idea ignores this fact) It would also raise taxation and fairness issues, with the DC government currently receiving 40% of its annual revenues from direct federal funding.