American Political System: Difference between revisions

Note that distinction: DC is ''in'' the United States, but not ''of'' them.<ref>This is to prevent it from being too heavily affected by any one state's petty local politics. Philadelphia was the original capital until the Pennsylvania state legislature effectively [[wikipedia:Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783|holding Congress hostage in 1783 convinced everyone else this was a bad idea.]] Lots of [[Hilarity Ensues]] from that fact, including the oddity that the citizens of DC - despite paying taxes - have no voting representation in the Legislative Branch (merely a non-voting representative), and until 1961 couldn't vote in Presidential elections. This from the country that revolted under the battle cry, "No taxation without representation!" The city's residents are disgruntled about it enough that the official DC automobile license plate reads "Taxation Without Representation".</ref>

 

 

There is a feeling among some Americans that there may be a reality distortion field of some sort that follows the outer edge of the Capital Beltway (a highway that circles DC). Attempts to prove this fail to obtain federal funding.