The District of Columbia has no vote in Congress, despite being home to more people than Wyoming. Our license plates bear the slogan "Taxation Without Representation" to drive the point home.
DC was recently asked to submit designs for its "state" quarter. The District submitted three designs, and all bore the slogan as well. It took the U.S. Mint less than 48 hours to say they were unacceptable.
Okay, so it's not too surprising the Mint wasn't keen on this idea, but I don't think it was an unreasonable proposal. They rejected it because it's "controversial." But, of course, there's not any controversy about whether we're taxed or have representation in Congress, so the slogan is a statement of fact. Apparently the Mint ended its rejection statement by saying that it "looks forward to working with District officials to develop narratives that will lead to a quarter honoring the District of Columbia of which the entire Nation can be proud." Gotta agree with them there -- it is difficult for the entire nation to be proud of a quarter that reminds them that our entire capital city is disenfranchised.
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2 comments:
I love that the proposal asked for either "Taxation Without Representation" or "No Taxation Without Representation" with no stated preference. The whole situation is pretty surreal.
I'd never heard of Benjamin Banneker -- I think that would be a pretty good idea for the coin. Duke Ellington is also really great idea.
Other slogans for the coin to do the whole nation right proud:
"Capital of the World"
"Chocolate-Covered Marsh Mellows"
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