DC retrocession into Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not in my lifetime. This is a lose-lose for politicians and top-level bureaucrats on both sides of the border and they will make sure it never gets off the ground (doesn't get serious discussion in Congress, not on the ballot, etc.

Retrocession, while logical and potentially doable politically to provide congressional representation to DC residents, is tremendously unpopular with DC’s local political set. First, they look at “national” office as an enhanced career path compared to today, when higher office means just one thing, the mayor’s chair. Moreover, the reason why the DC nomenklatura really salivates for statehood is the opprtunity to layer a whole state layer of bureaucracy on top of the existing municipal work force. Think of the patronage opportunities. The massive new jobs program for “the community”. The votes to reap. Unless you’re a DC taxpayer, what’s not to like?

DC already has the authority of a state as far as local govt is concerned. There is no reason there woul be more bureaucrats than now.

A quick Google tells me that overall the US has 511,000 elected officials, that's more than one for every 600 people. At that rate DC would have over 1,000 elected officials. Even counting ANC's it barely has half that now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not in my lifetime. This is a lose-lose for politicians and top-level bureaucrats on both sides of the border and they will make sure it never gets off the ground (doesn't get serious discussion in Congress, not on the ballot, etc.

Retrocession, while logical and potentially doable politically to provide congressional representation to DC residents, is tremendously unpopular with DC’s local political set. First, they look at “national” office as an enhanced career path compared to today, when higher office means just one thing, the mayor’s chair. Moreover, the reason why the DC nomenklatura really salivates for statehood is the opprtunity to layer a whole state layer of bureaucracy on top of the existing municipal work force. Think of the patronage opportunities. The massive new jobs program for “the community”. The votes to reap. Unless you’re a DC taxpayer, what’s not to like?

This is just a goofy response. There are already many "state level" bureaucracies working in DC, OSSE for example. Everything that needs to get done for a state to operate is already being done here.