~ ~ ~ Statehood for Washington D.C. ? ~~~

Further progress was granted in establishing statehood to Washington D.C.  If the city gains its statehood, a number of oddities will take place, likely leading this nation to further division and imbalance.

From the beginning of the national capital, D.C. remained separated from other states, ensuring the U.S. capital represented all states more equally.  Should it become its own state, the image of the city being for all states will be lost.

I understand capital cities of other nations are usually associated within provinces and states, though the U.S. handles states in more sovereign capacities.  Even if state liberties and responsibilities lead to imbalanced treatment of people across the nation, it can also lead to innovative solutions.

Balancing the nature of states is needed, a balance that has been declining since the beginning of this nation – both in size and social behavior.  Granting statehood to Washington D.C. would further inequalities between states.

Related to the size of the proposed D.C. statehood, 61 square miles of the city (68 sq. miles with the water) would make it the smallest state at 1/15th the size of Rhode Island (1,045 square miles, 1,214 with water).  The city of Butte, Montana, is nearly 11.7 times the size of D.C.  Seattle—at 84 square miles of land—is not much larger than D.C. in area.  These comparisons are with cities, not states, making the concept of D.C. statehood quirky at best.

The considerably small size of D.C. produces a number of oddities, should it be granted statehood.  Due to its constricted land area, the national capital would also become the capital of the new state.  Peculiarities continue when one considers D.C. as the smallest state.  The city would become the entire state.

Operations of the state and state capital, an area also acting as the national capital, poses interesting questions about functionality.  Various services related to such a state, and state capital, would become muddled with the need of D.C. to function as the national capital.

For D.C. to act as the national capital, virtually all services would be supplemented by federal funding.  Such funding would show favoritism to a state and its capital – a favoritism the federal government should never be accused of.

For these reasons, as well as others I haven’t conceived yet, D.C. must remain independent from all states.  Its services – including law enforcement – must be strictly federal to ensure there is no statehood biases.

As for residents living within the national capital; each person residing within city limits of D.C. should be represented by another state of their choice.  Like military personnel—having ‘home of residency’ in one of the fifty states, or territories—citizens living in D.C. would be represented by their home of resident state/territory of choice.  There should not be any person considered a ‘Resident of D.C.’

In consideration of territories; those residents also live without full representation.  Each citizen should be represented by states, even if living in territories or Washington D.C.  Another solution for territories would be to grant statehood status through any of the present states, notably smaller states, giving them more resources.  This may bring more balance between states, as well as representation to all citizens of the United States.

In conclusion, Washington D.C. must retain its separation from any non-national government function; otherwise, further imbalance of the states will take place.

Thank you for your consideration.

BCW-JZ