John Cochran writes:

Seeing comments from cranks outside DC applauding Trump's takeover without the slightest idea what's actually going on here or any understanding of the District. For one thing, there's a misconception that DC lives and runs off federal money, so it's only right that Congress and Trump dictate how the city is run.

In fact, DC runs on LOCAL money, raised through local property, sales and other taxes paid by us DC residents. We ... not you, my fellow Americans ... pay for DC's streets, streetlights, the police, the fire department, the schools, etc., etc., etc.

These local taxes are set by the city council and mayor we elect.

At the same time, DC residents pay the same federal taxes as every other American.

In fact, DC residents pay more in federal taxes per capita than residents of any other state, and more total federal income tax than 19 other states.

And yet we have no voting representation in Congress, which sets federal taxes and meddles in our local affairs.

This is why our license plates read, "Taxation without Representation."

The current leading statehood proposal for DC, which is making even more sense these days, would shrink the federal district to the area roughly around the Capitol complex, the National Mall and the White House. The rest of DC would become Douglass Commonwealth (after Frederick Douglass).

Trump could then fill the shrunken federal enclave shoulder-to-shoulder with armed soldiers if he likes.

Friends outside DC, if you hear friends, family or whoever cheering on the occupation of DC, I and my neighbors sure would appreciate it if you help us set the record straight ... and help us fight for the right to govern ourselves, like other Americans.

#resist #statehood #WashingtonDC #DC #DisenfrancisedCity #TaxationWithoutRepresentation #OccupiedZone #PoliceState #selfrule #FreeDC