Dear Fellow Contesters,
As I'm sure you well know, the North American QSO Party considers the
District of Columbia as part of Maryland, not as an independent entity,
and therefore not as a unique multiplier. This despite the fact that
the District, while not a State, is self governed, its residents pay
federal and local taxes, vote in federal (presidential) elections, and
send a Delegate to the House of Representatives.
In past years, we residents of the District of Columbia have argued that
DC should qualify as a separate multiplier, equivalent to a state. The
NCJ contest managers have consistently rebuffed that argument.
A closer reading of the NAQP rule describing multipliers (item #11)
leads us to believe that our justification for a separate multiplier
based on statehood may have been misguided. So what if we're not a
state! We do appear to qualify under the clause "and other North
American countries," as per the rule:
"Multipliers: Are U.S. states (including KH6 and KL7), 13 Canadian
provinces/territories (British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
PEI, Newfoundland/Labrador, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut) and
other North American countries. District of Columbia counts as
Maryland. Non-North American countries, maritime mobiles and
aeronautical mobiles do not count as multipliers, but may be worked
for QSO credit."
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are both unincorporated
territories of the United States, whose tax-paying residents are not
permitted to vote in federal (i.e., presidential) elections, yet send an
elected representative (a Resident Commissioner and Delegate,
respectively) to the US House of Representatives. Guam and American
Samoa are also US territories whose tax-paying residents send Delegates
to the Congress.
What we are *not* is part of Maryland! We do not live in, pay taxes in
or vote in Maryland. If the contesting community wants more greater
participation, the NAQPs are especially well suited for the role -
short, sweet and simple to do.
Make DC a multiplier and sure, more will jump in and give it a go!
Thoughts? Comments?
Now is the time for justice to be served by NCJ contest managers moving
in a positive direction to right this wrong!
73,
Eric W3DQ
Washington, DC
"taxation, but no multiplier representation"
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