Reply #51: no, let's lay the blame where it really belongs:

[northzax]

Congress. You do know, right, that Marion Barry had no financial control over the city? Congress did. The District didn't make it's own budget until about 1997, before that it was administered by a Financial Control Board appointed by Congress (where, you no doubt remember, we have no representation) Oh yes, people in Alaska had more say in how our local tax dollars were spent than we did. until 1998, it didn't matter WHO was the mayor of DC, financially, the Feds controlled everything.

For example: first jurisdiction in the country to pass a domestic partner bill for gay couples? the District of Columbia in 1992. Congress would not allow it to take effect until 2006. in 1998 we voted on medicinal marijuana legislation, Congress STILL hasn't approved the money to count those ballots, 8 years later.

sure, the District has issues, no doubt, but it ain't easy being a colony.