This week’s question: What do you think about the proposal to make the District of Columbia the 51st state?

The Buzz is a weekly question about an issue affecting the residents of Hampton Roads.

The Democrats’ proposal to make D.C. a state is purely a political power grab. If the issue truly were representation, retrocession of the residential areas to Maryland — similar to the retrocession to Virginia in the 1840s — would resolve that issue without upsetting the political balance of power.

Capt. Frank Dunn, U.S. Navy (retired), Hampton

D.C., with a population of 700,000, more than Vermont and Wyoming, should be the 51st state. It does not make sense that the Americans who pay the most in federal taxes have nobody to represent them in Congress or, as seen by earlier events, call the National Guard.

Donald Chavis, Chesapeake

The fact that Washington, D.C., has become one of the largest cities in the nation is no reason for it to become a state. Mexico City, the largest city in North America, is the capitol of Mexico and is located in an independent district. The Democrats need to respect the wishes of our founding fathers.

Michael Bankston, Virginia Beach

My feeling is that D.C. should be granted state status. Its population exceeds that of two of our least populated states, Vermont and Wyoming. Secondly, the populace currently pays federal taxes, yet has no congressional representation, a basic premise on which this country was formed. Finally, the residents themselves support such a move.

Joan Emerson, Williamsburg

If the claim to give residents of D.C. representation is the real priority, and not expanding the Senate, then annex the district back to the states it was carved out of.

Linda Carter, Poquoson

Absolutely not. The District was formed by Virginia and Maryland giving up land so the country could have a capital independent of any state, and not a part of any state. If any change is made, revert the land back to those states.

Hank Henson, Norfolk

Residents of Washington, D.C. should fall under the state of Maryland. Maryland representatives, senators and the Maryland governor should represent the citizens of Washington. If the population dictates additional Maryland representatives in Congress, so be it. Federal buildings and property should remain under federal jurisdiction and control.

Carl Anderson, Hampton

The paper has a tradition of including April Fools jokes in the April 1 issue. This year it included a good one. The Buzz question for next week: “What do you think about the proposal to make the District of Columbia the 51st state?” Joseph L. Bass, Suffolk

It’s a ridiculous notion. It is a federal district set apart, not a state. D.C. gets plenty of help from the federal government. The federal government does not want to be in an inferior position to a state and subject itself to all the powers of a

51st state. Let’s keep it as it was designed. Be smart.

Melinda Webb, Hampton

I think the move to make D.C. the 51st state is a blatant political power play by the Democrats. But I also recognize that political power plays are a well-established tradition in state admissions (North and South Dakota for example) that is neither unconstitutional nor immoral. So, go for it.

Michael Holloway, York County

“In the beginning...” a committee was charged with selecting a site for our national government. The state of Maryland and the commonwealth of Virginia donated 50 square miles (each). When the engineers and architects selected the northern side of the Potomac River for the federal buildings, Virginia cancelled its contribution in anger. Wow, things have not changed!

Ross Kearney, Hampton

I support it. If I was living there and had to list my state address on forms, I should be able to list D.C. and be proud of it, for its significance and history. Every other person living in the United States resides in one of those 50, and D.C. should be honored to be the 51st.

Andrew Byrne, Hampton

A blatant and shameless effort to populate Congress with more Democrats. How about we dissect the states of Texas, South Carolina and Florida into two states each and add their congressional delegations to Congress?

Don Vtipil, Norfolk

I think it’s a good idea as long as they carve out Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland and include them in the new state. We should have all those dependent on the national government paycheck in one place and let Virginia get back to serving the rest of our citizens.

Bill Wallace, Gloucester

It’s about time. D.C. has been taxed without representation for far too long. D.C. couldn’t even call in the National Guard when the Capitol was attacked because it isn’t a state. Puerto Rico should also be a state.