Expand self-determination for people in U.S. territories…without any further delay

People of America, fellow citizens of our constitutional democratic republic, let us grant DC statehood. Let’s add the District of Columbia to the Union as a state and rename it the State of Douglass. Let’s forward similar processes with Puerto Rico and other territories. All equally deserve to be liberated from anachronistic shackles of population requirements especially on islands and other areas constrained by geography so they may all engage with their fellow Americans as full citizens able to vote for their President and Vice-President of our United States. Yes, let’s grant DC statehood now.

The District of Columbia is constrained by geography, history, and territorial conflicts. DC can exist as a state, however small, simply as it is, especially as it’s population is larger than several other much larger current states. DC can be a state without any additional territory, altho it would be to the benefit of DC to have more territory. Having a larger, viable state in and around the current DC, while a territorial, voting, and tax loss in the short term for Virginia and Maryland, would most likely in the long run be in the best interests of the greater region including those neighboring states. Continue reading →