What if Trump DOES drop out?

[Babbylonian]

Which makes it even more unfair. Puerto Rico has ~3.5 million people and would be 29th in overall population if it where a state proper. DC on the other hand has only 600,000.

But yeah the whole territories/district/incorporated areas/other things which are states but aren't (which is actually vastly oversimplifying it) thing needs to go away. It sorta vaguely made sense with D.C. at least on a conceptual level but we're not empire building anymore.

Puerto Rico and the other territories won't be states until they decide that they want to be. We can't (more properly "won't") force them to do so.

I agree that DC should stop being a special case and become a state, though.

 

[JoeMorgue]

No but we would probably be within our rights to give them a "All the way in or all the way out" ultimatum.

 

[Babbylonian]

No but we would probably be within our rights to give them a "All the way in or all the way out" ultimatum.

It seems wrong for a nation to issue ultimatums to a nation which it annexed by force, at least in these times when we would otherwise recognize their right to self-determination.

Regardless, the process of Puerto Rico becoming a state is in motion even if it goes too slowly for most.

 

[CynicalSkeptic]

I agree that DC should stop being a special case and become a state, though.

It would make more sense to become part of Maryland again.

 

[Babbylonian]

I'd rather see it become part of Maryland again.

They'd likely never elect another Republican governor.

 

[Myron Proudfoot]

No but we would probably be within our rights to give them a "All the way in or all the way out" ultimatum.

that's what she said!!!

sorry, I'll go give myself a time out..

 

[dudalb]

It would make more sense to become part of Maryland again.

There is an "Vatican City" solution....Maintain a small area of DC...mainly the area around the Mall where the White House,The Congress ,and the Supreme court are located..and which has a very small resident population.... as an independent district,, and let the rest revert to Maryland.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I believe Virginia would like to have a piece of DC if it's going to be handed out. Why the assumption it would all go to Maryland?

 

[Babbylonian]

I believe Virginia would like to have a piece of DC if it's going to be handed out. Why the assumption it would all go to Maryland?

Because in the Bible, it grants all the swamps in that area to the residents of the land of Mary, where she was delivered to America by angels to convalesce during her postpartum depression.

Crack the Book of Mormon much? Doesn't sound like ya do!

 

[dudalb]

I believe Virginia would like to have a piece of DC if it's going to be handed out. Why the assumption it would all go to Maryland?

Because all of the land that DC is currently on was ceded to the Federal Government by Maryland. Some land South of the Potomac was ceded to the Feds by Virginia as part of DC...pretty much what is now Alexandria...but it was ceded back to Virginia in 1846.

 

[JoeMorgue]

It seems wrong for a nation to issue ultimatums to a nation which it annexed by force, at least in these times when we would otherwise recognize their right to self-determination.

Very true perhaps but I don't it's fair, either to the territory or... errr territorizing (that needs to be a word) nation for the territory to stay in some quasi-limbo forever.

And the circumstances of the US's annexing of its territories doesn't mean we are in perpetuity forbidden from having normal external or internal relations with them.

But we're drifting pretty far from topic right now, although this might be a decent standalone topic.

 

[RecoveringYuppy]

I believe Virginia would like to have a piece of DC if it's going to be handed out. Why the assumption it would all go to Maryland?

The part that Virginia donated has already been given back.

 

[NoahFence]

By the time this is all said and done, "Trump" will be synonymous with batcrap crazy. Look to see what's left his name to be removed from anything that bears it.

 

[RecoveringYuppy]

By the time this is all said and done, "Trump" will be synonymous with batcrap crazy. Look to see what's left his name to be removed from anything that bears it.

There is move to change the name of this park:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_J._Trump_State_Park

There's got to be a "Have we passed park trump?" parody thread to be made.

 

[Mader Levap]

It is not supposed to be a paragon of democracy.

I hear often how USA is supposed to be example for entire world. No thanks, why I would want to have something so dysfunctional?

It is supposed to be a paragon of freedom.

Funny thing, for some strange reason USA is not at top 1 of almost all various freedom indexes. Some paragon you guys are.

As long as the people believe in, understand, and defend the Constitution, the institutions will be strong, and it will matter little who the President is.

Good joke. Bad president can easily damage country in various horrible ways. Simplest one is causing costly wars.

It is pretty obvious why you claim that "it matters little who the President is" - to justify why it is fine having insane fascist clown as POTUS. Funnily enough, for some reason having certain corrupted bureaucrat for exactly same office suddenly matters a lot. There was already one poster that tried this double standard previously - WildCat. Heard about him lately?

To take an American football analogy, the President will be restricted to playing between the 40 yard lines.

Only if President agrees to that. I am sure you know what "constitutional crisis" is.

Democracy as a method for choosing the optimal leaders is idiotic. However, Democracy is a very effective mechanism for providing what most people can accept as a fair result.

Oh, it is good point to remind about something you completely ignored - voting systems in general elections (and primaries while we are at it). Do you think current one is fine and no changes are needed?

 

[TragicMonkey]

Because all of the land that DC is currently on was ceded to the Federal Government by Maryland. Some land South of the Potomac was ceded to the Feds by Virginia as part of DC...pretty much what is now Alexandria...but it was ceded back to Virginia in 1846.

Interesting. I didn't know that, I only remembered DC originally got land from both. So DC is just Maryland in drag? No wonder it always seems to have a weird John Waterish vibe to it!

 

[Jrrarglblarg]

My mistake, you are right. They just don't have representation in Congress.

They have "taxation without representation" as the motto on their license plates.

 

[Tony Stark]

Republicans will never allow DC to become a state or have voting representatives in Congress.

 

[dudalb]

Republicans will never allow DC to become a state or have voting representatives in Congress.

And, to be honest,I can't blame the GOP there, DC is so heavily Democrat it would be the equvilent of a British "Pocket Borough". I support giving all of DC except for the area around the Mall where the White House,Congress,and the Supreme court are located.back to Maryland. The "Vatican City" Solution. There are probably less then a thousand people who actually live in the Mall area.

 

[ChristianProgressive]

I was referring to DC.

They have at least one non-voting rep as well. For a long time it was Eleanor Holmes Norton.