Re: (ReacTor) Five SF Scenarios Involving the US Presidential Line of Succession

On 2024-10-20, William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:

Chris Buckley wrote:
>

>
Can Maryland be compelled  to take DC back?  I'd be very surprised if
that were so.

 
The Maryland *legislature* gets to vote on DC; the *residents* don't.

>
So Maryland cannot be compelled to take DC back.

William, I don't understand what you're trying to say here.  I've been
(at least in my mind) very precise about what I believe the requirements
are. I'll try again: DC can be joined to Maryland without the general
population of Maryland voting on the issue. DC cannot be joined to Maryland
without the general population of *DC* voting on the issue. What is it
you don't understand?

The *DC residents* do get to vote.

>
Do you have any evidence that their vote is binding?  The constitution
seems to be pretty clear that the federal government can do what it
wants with DC.

What does "binding" mean here? I believe it is *necessary* for DC residents
to vote in favor of DC joining Maryland in order for it to happen.
Matters of statehood require consent. (Note: having DC vote with
Maryland does not constitutionally require DC to consent, though I'm
sure they would be given the option. Congress did not require
DC residents to vote when Congress disenfranchised them.)

And all this is quibbling about a possibility that nobody is working
towards. There is no movement to have DC join Maryland. It's currently
a false choice.

Nonetheless, Democrats seem to want to set the voting rights debate to
be that choice between DC joining Maryland or DC becoming a state
itself.  The polls and DC referendum don't mention other
possibilities. The Washington Post poll you quoted had *9* questions
for Marylanders about DC voting rights and statehood. As expected, not
a single one mentioned the possibility of DC voting with Maryland, a
path that's been proposed in Congress for decades by Republicans.
Democrats seemingly don't want that option discussed.

The Democrats don't care about DC voting rights nearly as much as they
care about 2 more Senators.

Chris