This post originated from an RSS feed registered with .NET Buzz by Jason Nadal. Original Post: DC License Plates Feed Title: Jason Nadal Feed URL: http://www.asp.net/err404.htm?aspxerrorpath=/jnadal/Rss.aspx Feed Description: Restless C#ding Latest .NET Buzz Posts Latest .NET Buzz Posts by Jason Nadal Latest Posts From Jason Nadal

I'm not sure if anyone subscribes to my individual feed, and I don't usually write posts on politics (I can hear the sound of browser back buttons right now!), but I saw a license plate on the way home that really made me confused. 

Back in high school, middle school, and maybe even elementary school, we were taught one of the main tenets for rebellion of US colonists in the colonial era was that of “No taxation without representation,” meaning that the freedoms we enjoy today of voting, voice in government, police, fire protection, and emergency healthcare would be bought through taxes.  And conversely, the government shouldn't be able to tax unless it provided the people with such a voice in the government.

Now to my point.  On the way home I saw a Washington DC plate with the slogan: “Taxation Without Representation.”  This made me think for a few minutes, then I understood.  Since DC is not actually a state, and as such does not have statehood representation in the House or Senate, they feel they are unfairly denied a voice in congress.

I looked it up, and there are also similar plates in support of DCians in maryland and virginia. See here for more information from the group that's organizing this.  I'm really surprised the gov't would put slogans like this on license plates!