In theory, because every congressperson lives in DC a large fraction of the year, every one represents them. Giving them their own rep on top of that would give them too much power. In theory.
Congressmembers are only a minuscule fraction of the population of DC. And the rest of the population never voted for any of them. So the vast, vast majority of people in DC are unrepresented.
Yes, it’s silly to say they’re being represented. They don’t chose them and Representatives and Senators don’t give a hoot about what D.C. residents want on a national stage. They barely care what their constituents want. I have never heard them even mention the people of D.C. when talking about issues.
It would not be giving D.C. too much power because ultimately Congress governs D.C., not the local government which exists entirely at Congress’s pleasure, so this would at least give D.C. some influence over its own government rather than none, which is what it currently has.
In theory, because every congressperson lives in DC a large fraction of the year, every one represents them. Giving them their own rep on top of that would give them too much power. In theory.
Congressmembers are only a minuscule fraction of the population of DC. And the rest of the population never voted for any of them. So the vast, vast majority of people in DC are unrepresented.
Yes, it’s silly to say they’re being represented. They don’t chose them and Representatives and Senators don’t give a hoot about what D.C. residents want on a national stage. They barely care what their constituents want. I have never heard them even mention the people of D.C. when talking about issues.
It would not be giving D.C. too much power because ultimately Congress governs D.C., not the local government which exists entirely at Congress’s pleasure, so this would at least give D.C. some influence over its own government rather than none, which is what it currently has.