41 Replies
4y
.... to help them have a big enough tax base/population to be considered for statehood. And while we are at it, Mont. CO and PG Co. need to be hacked off of Maryland and given to DC. All of those people aren't really Marylanders or Virginians, they are actually Washingtonians.
The new state (which I suggest be called "Columbia" instead of "District of Columbia") would have a much larger land area and a population of about 3.5 million -- much more appropriate for a state. It would even be a Democratic state -- just like the DC folks want.
But the effect on the state houses in Richmond and Annapolis would be quite helpful. The makeup of those bodies would change to be something more representative and in keeping with the character of those states (instead of two states being dominated by the DC suburbs).
Maryland and Virginia would be minus a big hunk of tax base -- but ALSO minus a big hunk of the infrastructure they need to provide for the DC suburbs to stay afloat.
Additionally, you've heard the DC region bellyaching abut funding, etc being split over three jurisdictions and causing problems. In my proposed new state of Columbia, that problem is (by definition) erased.
(In response to this post by Major Kong)
4y
.... of established states, and still be able to get away with saying we're still fairly representing that clipped urban area. There won't be any additional states appended after (the possibility of) DC. All the rest of the states have their dominating urban zones encapsulated in their midst (pretty much -- for example, could St. Louis be "given" to Illinois?). But the DC suburbs are definitely outliers as far as VA and MD are concerned -- both demographically and geographically. We could actually plausibly get away with the creation of a larger "Columbia".
(In response to this post by VToncologyNurse)
4y
they are like SW VA. Ditto for Tidewater. And the statement keeping with the "character of those states"? C'mon man. Maybe VA's character has changed from what it was in the mid 20th century since NOVA really boomed in the latter half.
It's urban vs rural you're talking about. But saying that losing NOVA would provide a more representative state gov't for Virginia ignores the fact that those NOVA residents + Richmond + Tidewater outnumber all the rest of the people in the state combined. So maybe the government is completely representative of its residents and where most of their political sentiments lie. I'd also be willing to bet that SW VA takes in more Virginia tax dollars than it gives back. So losing NOVA would be a net loss for that region(SWVA).
** Edited by ElbertoHokie at 8/2/2022, 10:52:58 AM
(In response to this post by VToncologyNurse)
4y
.... can carry the "urban vote" for Virginia. Richmond and Tidewater are also historically and inherently Virginian. NOVA, not so much. I grew up there. Those folks are Washingtonians, not Virginians. They transiently come from everywhere else on the planet to try and work in the DC economy. So let em be DC.
(In response to this post by ElbertoHokie)
4y
Philadelphia and Pittsburg separated by Alabama.
(In response to this post by Major Kong)
4y
it's borders
(In response to this post by Major Kong)
4y
We have considered retiring to Lakewood on Chatauqua but would never live under the rule of Albany. W NY is beautiful small farms and small towns that would love nothing more than be part of PA.
(In response to this post by KeithHokie89)
4y
... testify. Of course, Tennessee is a mighty LONG state, Memphis is wayyyyyyy far away -- completely different geography to say nothing of the culture differences.
(In response to this post by RoswellGAHokie)
4y
Or so I'm told. Buddy of mine grew up out there. Did a lot of hunting and fishing and is so NOT "cultured," as it were.
(In response to this post by HokieDan95)
4y
Everyone thinks liberal, but go inland. PA.... Philly vs some rural areas. NYC vs. Upstate NY. Florida?
(In response to this post by HokieDan95)
V
Va AandM
4y
(In response to this post by turkeywinghokie)
4y
Most Powerful people
** Edited by HokieDan95 at 8/1/2022, 6:12:06 PM
** Edited by HokieDan95 at 8/1/2022, 6:12:47 PM
(In response to this post by turkeywinghokie)
yeah, Cali is an entire country really
the tech snobs of SF, the entertainment snobs of LA, the crack dealers of Bakersfield, the weed growers of Humboldt, and 300 miles of farmers in the middle.
(In response to this post by turkeywinghokie)
4y
San Diego- nice weather snobs, Surfer snobs, Palm Springs has their own snobs….
Cali really should be sub divided into 14 discrete states with their own tax and governance structure. San Bernard would be lost and would be run by traffickers like Columbia in the 80/90s.
(In response to this post by MrBayAreaHokie)
4y
as far right as you can get
We live about 8 miles from the coast and it's definitely a mixed bag
(In response to this post by turkeywinghokie)
4y
Lived vic. Oceanside or on the south side of Pendleton.
(In response to this post by wc hokie)
4y
can be as rural and conservative as anywhere.
Heck, even Texas has some pretty big gaps. Austin is darned close to being New California these days, while the rest of Texas is still Texas.
(In response to this post by turkeywinghokie)
4y
well be the state of Jefferson today. They were supposed to vote on it on December 8, 1941.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
J
jdkhokie
4y
the northern part of Delaware.
(In response to this post by Major Kong)
V
Va AandM
4y
(In response to this post by jdkhokie)
