What's with the D.C. licence plates?
 

I just HAD to take a picture of the license plates in D.C. that caught my eye.
"Taxation without Representation" is what it read. Now, there were several other D.C. "mottos" on other license plates, but this particular one got me wondering.
What does it mean and what is the sentiment behind it?? I read it as fairly bitter and ironic. Am I wrong?? I also thought it was strange that a bitter/ironic "motto" would be offered by the gub-mint.
Can anyone explain??

I believe that the citizens of DC have no congressional representation.

Google it.

There aren't many other mottos - only "Taxation without Representation" or "Nation's Capital" - unless I haven't really been paying attention around town.

When I first saw the plates, I thought some clever person had taped it onto their license plate, because it seems a bit flippant for a DMV issued license plate. But then when I realized it wasn't likely that half the city put stickers on their plates...

It's because the District lacks full representation in Congress. The House delegate, Eleanor Holmes-Norton, can vote in committee, but I don't think she can vote in House votes. DC has no Senators (despite the name of the baseball team).

Remember your American Revolutionary history tests...That quote dates back to when King George of England was levying taxes on the colonists. I'm sure now it has the added of meaning that others have suggested ;-)

As everyone has said above, DC is using the famous statment from Colonial American-British history as an analogy to their own current situation.

Oops, must've been posting at the same time as OneWanderingJew!

I think the plates are great!!! I am still stunned that they were allowed to have them. Everyone I know in DC has them.

Fairfax, why wouldn't they be allowed to have them? Every DMV is State-run, as it were (except DC of course is no state). I've even heard of a few deejay's and columnists angling for DC to have their own Olympic team, separate from the USA. After all, Puerto Rico and American Samoa do, and they don't have voting rights... then again, they don't have a lot of things that the DCers do, but that's another controversy. I like the DC plates!

I was living in DC when those plates became avaialble.

I must say, it's depressing how few Americans know that if you live in the District, you are not represented in Congress. The DC rep to Congress is an observer, like those from Puerto Rico, Guam, and other US "protectorates"--s/he can't vote.

Hence, Taxation Without Representation is a literal description of what DC residents suffer!

Of course the federal gov't. disapporved of the plates, and Congress, which oversees the District's self-governing because DC is the federal city (DC actually only achieved Home Rule in the form of an elected Mayor and City Council in the late 1970's, I believe), threatened to snatch some funding away if the plates became a reality. But, for once, DC won a showdown with Congress, and so the plates exist.

Bitter? You bet!

The facts: DC residents pay among the highest Federal and state income taxes in the US.

DC has one representative who can vote in committee but not on the floor of the House. DC has two "shadow" senators who serve no function.

Every DC law and budget must be approved by the US Congress before it may take effect. If residents vote approval of a popostion, Congress can block and kill it. Congress can also prevent the count of the vote. In recent years, the President appointed an overseer ... harkens back to plantation days, or am I imaging things!

The Feds occupy huge tracts of DC land, thus local property taxes cannot be levied. In return, the DC government receives an annual amount that doesn't cover costs.

When parades, demonstrations, etc. occur DC must cover 100% of the costs, and then based on crowd size, must appeal to NPS for reimbursement.

DC is taxed but not afforded the representation and self governing rights that states with fewer people enjoy.

It's indeed taxation without representation. Why debate such an obvious inequity. Instead, work to make DC citizens full citizens. It is your capitol!!

I must admit I have ALWAYS wondered about the plates.
Thanks for the wonderful responses... a few less people are in the dark ~

If DC gets statehood, can Maryland's Eastern Shore secede from the rest of the state and become our own state?

Thanks, all! I'm glad for the comments! I knew that poor D.C. is taxed and has no real representation, but I was really struck by the cheeky honesty of the motto! Way to go, D.C.!

Hmm. Makes me wonder about some other potential honest license plate mottos.....
:)

The revolutionary cry was "No taxation without representation!" but the motto was changed slightly for the license plates so that it would not seem like an exhortation.

The tag motto is anything but ironic; it is a statement fact -- that DC residents pay federal taxes without having voting representatives in Congress.

I'm curious, what does DC get in return relative to the funds it sends to the Federal Government?

While I don't live in NY, but earn my income here, can I claim "Overtaxation without adequate representation" as NYC sends anywhere from $5 Billion to $11 Billion more to Washington then it gets back in Federal spending?

I believe the original Revolutionary War slogan was "taxation without representation is tyranny."

So, Ryan, it's not about the degree of taxation or representation. It's black and white: DC residents get taxed and have no representation (though I know NY has hellacious taxes, but you'll have to take that up with your local politicians).

I would disagree that you have no representation, in concept. Yes, you have not representation in the legislative branch, that is true. (Trust me, being represented isn't all it's cracked up to be.)

However, given that the business of Washington is the government and those who make the laws and lobby to influence the laws represent the DC tax base, it's not like DC residents have no governmental influence. Heck, I hear the guy who resides at 1600 Pennsylvannia has something to do with governing.

Ryan, if you think "those who make the laws and lobby" have the DC tax base in mind, you need to come live in Washington for a while. Their interests are anything but the DC tax base.

Congressman Joe Schmoe from Idaho is interested in what's best for Ihis district in Idaho and doesn't give a fig about DC. Ditto for lobbyists. They represent whoever pays them, and that ain't the citizens of DC.

What's more, Congress lives in a special world that's unknown to most DC residents. The average Congressman knows less about that regular DC citizens go through than Louis XIV know about French peasants.

And you think the guy at 1600 Penn. Ave. is about helping DC. Gimme a break.

However, I will agree that federal representation isn't what it's cracked up to be. Fact is, DC residents pay for it and don't get any.

In any event, with Marion Barry's recent political resurrection by his election as Ward 8 Councilman, any chance of DC Statehood has gone by the wayside.