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.

Ryan, yours is the noblesse oblige argument that has served DC so poorly for so long (as in, it's one of the many reasons there are so few home-grown political leaders there worth their salt): "We, the wise white fathers who live and govern here will look out for you, DC residents, don't worry your pretty little heads." It's a black and white issue, indeed.

Statehood, what are you people smoking anyhow, you must be kidding us.

I love those those plates, but I was stunned to see a political mesaage/complaint on license plates. That would be like Illinois having plates exorting politicians to stop the corruption. (For non Illinoisans, this may be the most corrupt state in the country, after Louisiana. Though I know Florida and New Jersey are very close.)

How about a D.C plate that says "Taxation Pays My Bills"

Not that I'm trying to start a new argument or anything, but Florida has a special anti-abortion license plate -- says something like "Choose Life." How does something like that get through?

Interesting how someone made this into a racial issue when the city has as its most beloved franchise, a football team with a name that can be deemed as pretty offensive. But, I digress.

In terms of the getting representation issue, I believe you need to look at political reality. Political reality one is that we've become a fairly divided society between the left and the right. We may be in a cycle where elections are won at the national level by modest margins and where the Congress remains fairly close. Getting the requisite support will be tough given the perception that the DC population is fairly pastisan.

Political reality 2 is that the Republicans aren't going to push for DC representation when it might swing the balance of power in the House and Senate.

In terms of your last best chance, the Democratically controlled Congress in Clinton's first two years in office, I think you have to remember that the Marion Barry incident was still pretty fresh in 1992 and 1993.

I too love the plates. A considered alternative was "America's Serfs". I think other states might try something bolder as well. For example, Wisconson: "Come smell our Dairy Air!"

Actually, one of the proposals was to give DC a vote while also giving an additional vote to a Western state that is underrepresented, I think its Wyoming or Utah.

I can't defend Marion Barry, but in no other city in the country is representation withheld from the residents on the strength of their mayor's competence, or lack thereof.

I posted these license plate slogans last spring and thought it is appropriate for this thread:

Please have a sense of humor and help me with my list of license plate slogans. There are no sacred cows! I have slammed my own state. Does anyone have slogans which you like better? I can not think of a slogan for a few of the states.

with love,
Jor \:D/

Alabama, The kissin' cousins state
Alaska, Hell with the Lower 48
Arizona, Snowbird bait of the USA
Arkansas, Dumb and Dumber than Missouri
California, The Golden Broke State
Colorado, The Square State
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Florida, The birth place of Methamatics
Georgia, Yankee Go Home
Hawaii, Land of no Interstate Highways
Idaho, White as a peeled potato
Illinois, There is no noise in Illinois
Indiana,
Iowa, Remember Radar on MASH?
Kansas, The fly-over state
Kentucky,
Louisiana, We ain't as stupid as Missip
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan, Rust capital of America
Minnesota, Hillbillies of the North
Mississippi, How do you spell Mississippi?
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska, Except In Nebraska
Nevada,
New Hampshire, The state next to Vermont
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York, Its a State, Stupid!
North Carolina,
North Dakota, Land of White People
Ohio, The Other rust state
Oklahoma,
Oregon, Spend your money here and Leave
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Blink and you will miss us
South Carolina,
South Dakota, The dead presidents state
Tennessee, All roads lead to Graceland
Texas, Biggest before Alaska showed up
Utah, Where Wives outnumber Husbands
Vermont, Vacancy, Gays Welcome!
Virginia, We have Virgins??
Washington, The one on the West Coast
West Virginia, Just west of Virginia
Wisconsin, Land of five million Drunks
Wyoning, We got Real cowboys!

E,
You want to have representation then fine. But, first come join the rest of us in the country that get SIGNIFICANTLY less in return then we send to Washington. You want equal representation, then first let's make you equal by bringing you pack to the pack when it comes to benefitting from tax dollars collected.

According to the non-partisan tax foundation, in 2002 Washington, D.C. received the benefit of $6.17 for every $1 collected in income tax from District residents.

Know what number 2 New Mexico got? $1.89. So, Washington, D.C residents got back 326% MORE then the next closest person in America.

Want to talk about taxation without representation, then consider my fellow NJ residents to be first on the list as we're number 51 on return of funds sent. For every $1 of federal tax we pay, we get back $0.62.

Tell you what, you take our Conressmen, we'll take your $6.17.

Connecticut - the state that doesn't know what team to root for (NY or Boston)

Love the Wisconsin slogan above; another dairy-oriented one for them is "Eat Cheese or Die."

And here's another favorite list of state slogans:

Alabama: Heck Yes, We Have Electricity
Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona: But It's A Dry Heat
Arkansas: Literacy Ain't Everything
California: By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda
Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy's Don't Own It Yet
Delaware: We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water
Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
Georgia: We Put The "Fun" In Fundamentalist Extremism
Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)
Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes ... Well Okay, We're
Not, But The Potatoes Are Real Good
Illinois: Please Don't Pronounce the "S"
Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa: We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas: First Of The Rectangular States
Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana: We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But
That's Our Tourism Campaign
Maine: We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland: If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)
Michigan: First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota: 10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
Mississippi: Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana: Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies, And Very Little Else
Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada: Hookers and Poker!
New Hampshire: Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey: You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!
New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent pets
New York: You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An Attorney ...
North Carolina: Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota: We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio: At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma: Like The Play, Only No Singing
Oregon: Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina: Remember The Civil War? We Didn' Actually Surrender
South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee: The Educashun State
Texas: Si' Hablo Ing'les (Yes, I Speak English)
Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus!
Vermont: Yep
Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!
Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
West Virginia: One Big Happy Family... Really!
Wisconsin: Come Cut The Cheese
Wyoming: Where Men Are Men ... and the sheep are scared!

Brilliant idea, Ryan, perhaps we should just base representation on tax dollars paid.

What do you think that money is going for in D.C. . . .? A huge share is infrastructure and support for -- guess what -- the federal government.

It's not like much of that is filtering down to residents. In fact, the state/local tax load is second to only New York.

And then because -- surprise -- a lot of federal employees live in the District, the flow of federal dollars here is perfectly understandable.

And New Jersey does have representation -- it's just not very good. And N.J. voters are to blame -- that's not the case in D.C.

Ryan, you make a good point. Every city in America would kill for the ability to have all of their income flowing in from outside areas instead of money going from Joe to Moe to Mary and back to Joe all within the same city.

D.C has an ideal situation where most money comes from All of the 50 states, is mandated, gaurenteed, and can not be changed. Thats why I suggested a plate that says "Taxation Pays My Bills"

You're right, Repete is it going for indrastructure and the Federal government such as Federal government jobs that provide DC residents with employment, Federal government dollars that provide DC businesses with revenue, and Federal government funding for much of the cities infrastructure.

And that infrastructure supports the federal government. Take for example, the Million-Whatever Marchers or the IMF protests. Whose police department works those?

The point is that the benefits of those tax figures to typical DC residents aren't what they seem.

Residents pay the same federal taxes as everyone else and their local/state tax load is more than that of 49 states. They just don't get the same representation. It's a matter of simple fairness.

"Author: Shane
Date: 10/15/2004, 05:11 pm
Message: If DC gets statehood, can Maryland's Eastern Shore secede from the rest of the state and become our own state?"

I doubt that would ever be the case, though we can dream. By the way, where on the Eastern Shore do you live?
I live/lived (go to college elsewhere, come back during break) in Salisbury. I've always been a "Seperatist" and everyone seems to laugh when I say that. We have our reasons to demand independence. I even had a mini poster made to demand statehood for the Eastern Shore.

Washington DC deserves statehood just by principle, it pays taxes. Also, the population of DC is similar to some entire states, such as Wyoming (not quite).

I live just off the Wye River, near Queenstown. Frankly, as long as both political parties agree that it could be done equitably, I'd wouldn't mind the US being split into 100 states. Maine seceded from Massachusetts in 1820 you know. Maryland's Eastern Shore could get statehood. Michigan's Upper Peninsula. California could split three ways, as some have proposed. Technically, Texas has the right to split 5 ways. Washington state could split at the Cascades. The Democratic West could have their desired reps and senators and the Republican East could have theirs. Heck, almost 40 years ago Norman Mailer advocated statehood for New York City- not too bad an idea.

How about:

Washington DC: If not for the Feds, this place would still be a swamp.