No Taxation without Representation

Zoins

What do you think of the US Mint rejecting Washington DC's original request to use the phrase on their quarter?

ElKevvo

Too politically charged...best to keep the masses not thinking about such things...

K

commoncents05

Good for the Mint. While I agree with DC's argument, a Quarter is not the right place to state their case.

-Paul

fishcooker

Yeah, well, Texas couldn't show the Alamo, either.

HTubbs

<< <i>Yeah, well, Texas couldn't show the Alamo, either. >>



Why's that? The Alamo has great historical significance...

kajdg657

Washington D.C. was founded in 1790, the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" began during a period in the founding of our country, 1763–1776, where the british colonies were not content at being taxed without equal representation in the British parliament. For this I believe that we should not include this phrase on anything with regards to Washington D.C.. The city is trying to bring attention to it's plight?!?!, for lack of a better word, instead of realizing that the representation sits at 1500 Pennsylvania ave. "Article One of the United States Constitution provides for a federal district, distinct from the states, to serve as the permanent national capital." If they would like to succeed from our nation, then I would grant this phrase, but to use a patriotic phrase to stir up the bucket is just wrong. Currently the words "Taxation Without Representation" were added to the bottom of the Washington, D.C. license plate to protest the District's lack of representation in Congress.

edgar

TwoSides2aCoin

<< <i>Too politically charged...best to keep the masses not thinking about such things...

K >>


You can take that to the bank

Oh wait, that was 1913 behind the masses' back

291fifth

The Founding Fathers were correct in denying representation to DC residents. Let's hope it stays that way.

mrearlygold

It was a meaningful statement once upon a time.

Bochiman

The right move. Washington DC was just being whiny....again!
They are, as our capital, afforded TOO much already and keep wanting more and more.

The quarters should have gone back to "normal" after the SHQ program ended and they shouldn't have even gotten this far.

messydesk

How many residents of DC actually pay taxes, anyway? Even excluding cabinet appointees, with respect to federal income taxes, I'd imagine that DC has one of the lowest number of tax payers per capita if you compare it to the states.

edix2001

DCVote.org sent me a "Taxation Without Representation" wooden Washington dollar that they were handing out to Democratic Convention delegates in Denver and at the US Mint there.
Here's the artwork, with room left for specific event slogans:

slipgate

I think the DC effective tax rate was like 13%. It was the most expensive tax rate in the US if I remember.

The tag motto should be, "Run By a Bunch of Retards". If I lived there instead of MD, I'd put that over the taxation motto. MD just has the stupid MD state web address. LOL!

jmski52

How many residents of DC actually pay taxes, anyway?

I was just thinking that before I got to your post. We have tax cheat, "No Consequences Geithner" as head of the taxation entity. What else is there to say?

newsman

There's no law requiring people to live in DC.

19Lyds

Its their game so they make the rules.

zeebob

Okay, I know some of you guys are going to think this is a dumb question, but why isn't DC part of a state? Why is it that DC is it's own little entity. Who set it up that way and why? I have to explain to my kid at some point and I honestly don't know why it isn't just part of MD.

newsman

<< <i>Okay, I know some of you guys are going to think this is a dumb question, but why isn't DC part of a state? Why is it that DC is it's own little entity. Who set it up that way and why? I have to explain to my kid at some point and I honestly don't know why it isn't just part of MD. >>



Because at the time the Constitution was written the states were more powerful and competitive than they are now, and the document's framers wanted to be sure the federal government did not fall under the sway of a powerful state, such as Virginia. That's why DC was put under the direct control of Congress.

Incidentally, DC is a lot smaller now than it was originally. Arlington County, Va., and Alexandria, Va., were originally part of the District.

PerryHall

Anyone remember that crackhead Marion Barry?

messydesk

<< <i>Okay, I know some of you guys are going to think this is a dumb question, but why isn't DC part of a state? Why is it that DC is it's own little entity. Who set it up that way and why? I have to explain to my kid at some point and I honestly don't know why it isn't just part of MD. >>


The Framers set up DC as an automonous district so that the federal government would have control over the seat of its government, and not be aligned with, subject to, or imposing upon a specific sovereign state (the concept of which is, for all practical purposes, an anachronism today). Both Maryland and Virginia gave land to the federal government for the creation of DC, of which Virginia's portion has since been returned. Making DC a state would require a constitutional amendment which would irrevocably take away the federal government's control over its place of business.

TwoSides2aCoin

<< <i>There's no law requiring people to live in DC. >>



A butcher says "The closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat"
Politicians say : "The closer to the pork, the tastier the bacon".

edix2001

<< <i>Anyone remember that crackhead Marion Barry? >>



I've worked with Marion Barry and found him to be quite intelligent and fun.

crypto79

<< <i>How many residents of DC actually pay taxes, anyway? Even excluding cabinet appointees, with respect to federal income taxes, I'd imagine that DC has one of the lowest number of tax payers per capita if you compare it to the states. >>



Well since you ask DC has one of the highest educated and paid work forces in the country and pay a large chunk of taxes, not to mention it is the Federal Government that is the problem as all Federal land pays no property tax which accounts for a large share of DC's land area so they tax other areas heavily. DC's GDP would rank 17th in the union if it were a state and if I remember correctly it would rake 46 out of 51 in population. So two ?'s

1 What exactly do you mean by the statement "DC has one of the lowest number of tax payers per capita". Did you mean DC has one of the lowest % of tax payers to populations sizes indexed by income level.

2 DC largest commodity is management services and Lobbying. You cannot throw a stone without taking out a lawyer or a few MBA's(if you're lucky a CPA for good luck). Yes there is a poor part of DC and the people there are poor. But let's not forget this city is mostly recession proof and quite wealthy as most of the country's money flows through here at one point or another. All the talk of over sight people are talking about now on the news means six figure Government jobs with even higher paid private firms to lobby and support the oversight mission.

IMHO the reason DC isn't a state is it was to small in the 1880-1940s(heck they gave part back to VA thinking they would never need it) too black from the 50s-90s and to Democratic since then. Hard to get it a state given what you need in terms of votes unless you control the House and the congress and the White House and the Courts.....Sweet

drwstr123

<< <i>

<< <i>Anyone remember that crackhead Marion Barry? >>



I've worked with Marion Barry and found him to be quite intelligent and fun. >>


I bet....a couple a tokes on the ol' crack pipe and a quart of Ripple...he's a riot.

zeebob

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Anyone remember that crackhead Marion Barry? >>



I've worked with Marion Barry and found him to be quite intelligent and fun. >>


I bet....a couple a tokes on the ol' crack pipe and a quart of Ripple...he's a riot. >>



I know it's wrong, but I had to wipe Coca Cola off my tie and keyboard when I read that. Very funny statement.

messydesk

<< <i>1 What exactly do you mean by the statement "DC has one of the lowest number of tax payers per capita". Did you mean DC has one of the lowest % of tax payers to populations sizes indexed by income level. >>


Speaking only in terms of federal income taxes (not local income, sales, or property taxes), there is an income level below which you don't pay taxes. My impression of DC is that since the poor areas are a significant portion of the district, the ratio of federal non-taxpayers to federal taxpayers is relatively high. Since representation in Congress is based on population, not taxes paid, if my impression is correct, that would make whole "taxation without representation" slogan a bit ironic.


<< <i>You cannot throw a stone without taking out a lawyer or a few MBA's(if you're lucky a CPA for good luck). >>


Let me know if you need any more stones.