Fifty years ago, the states ratified the 23^rd Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed the District of Columbia to appoint electors for President as if it were a state. Yet while District residents may vote for President, they remain without representation in Congress.

Writing in the New York Times, Northwestern’s Kate Masur argues that race and partisanship are the principal reasons why the District lacks representation:

The 23^rd Amendment is a reminder that support can be rallied for greater democracy for the district. And yet, in our polarized political climate, the powerful argument for voting representation in Congress seems perpetually stymied.

One problem is indifference; most Americans are unaware of the capital’s anomalous status, the city’s “Taxation Without Representation” license plates notwithstanding. A second is partisanship; to establish a vote in Congress for Washingtonians, who are overwhelmingly Democrats, Republicans would have to place a moral imperative ahead of partisan interests.

Another is race. A half-century after the dawn of the civil rights era, many Americans still have a hard time seeing African-Americans as citizens entitled to the rights that so many white people take for granted. For residents of a place once known as “Chocolate City,” these attitudes are a sadly familiar obstacle to equality.

Even if Masur is right that partisanship and race define the politics of granting representation to the District, Congress still has an obligation to uphold the Constitution. As Andrew Grossman and I explained two years ago, “Congress lacks the constitutional authority to grant the city a representative by legislation; the District of Columbia is not a state, and representation is limited to states alone.”

This is not to say there’s no moral case for representation. The District’s status violates the principle of consent of the governed.

Fortunately, there are solutions to this problem that do not violate the Constitution. For example, Grossman and I argued that

Congress could propose an amendment granting the District a representative in Congress, perhaps using the 1978 proposal noted earlier as a model. Adding such representation directly to the Constitution would by definition avoid running afoul of the nation’s supreme law. In addition, the amendment solution would retain the Founders’ intention that the capital city remain subject to the “exclusive legislation” of Congress–even as it grants the city’s residents a more direct voice in that legislation.

Another, less constitutionally problematic approach would resolve the “taxation without representation” complaint by eliminating federal taxes for the District.

No matter the solution, it’s important that it be consistent with the Constitution. Even a powerful moral grievance is no excuse for ignoring the nation’s highest law.

• This may be one of the best job listings ever posted. Best bit: “our ideal candidate has also cursed out an editor, had spokespeople hang up on them in anger and threatened to resign at least once because some fool wanted to screw around with their perfect lede.”
• Far from being the malefactors portrayed in the media, Charles and David Koch are idealists committed to a free society, Matthew Continetti reports.
• Charities’ challenges in getting funds from wireless carriers should serve as a reminder to fundraisers that text-to-donate remains an immature tool.
• Christie Grennes has launched a new blog about coupons and money-saving tips.
• Harry Roberts (whose tips I have come to rely on) interviews Vitaly Friedman of Smashing Magazine.
• It’s sad that it makes news in D.C. when a real estate development moves forward relying entirely on private tenants.
• Would you buy standing-room tickets to see the Capitals?
• Last but not least, Tim Pawlenty’s PAC released a powerful video earlier in the year.

• Google researchers discovered that technical ability isn’t what makes a good manager. Instead it’s, well, being a good manager. “What employees valued most were even-keeled bosses who made time for one-on-one meetings, who helped people puzzle through problems by asking questions, not dictating answers, and who took an interest in employees’ lives and careers.” A neat infographic explains Google’s criteria.
• Slate explores the dramatic fall of pickpocketing in the United States: “In a 2001 story, the New York Times reported that there were 23,068 reported pickpocketing incidents in the city in 1990, amounting to nearly $10 million in losses. Five years later, the number of reported incidents had fallen by half, and by the turn of the millennium, there were less than 5,000. Today, the NYPD doesn’t even maintain individual numbers on pickpocketing.”
• Vasilis Vryniotis offers a list of best practices webmasters should follow before launching a site. These are also good to keep in mind after a site is launched, too.
• A new mashup from Greater Greater Washington allows you to redistrict the District of Columbia’s wards based on 2010 census data. Here’s my take.
• Last but not least, Remy has a new video for Reason.tv.

Yuval Levin argues that conservatives should start making the case for entitlement reforms now, even if reforms can’t be enacted in the short run.

Smashing Magazine offers up examples of stylish e-commerce designs. Of course, the visual design of an e-commerce site is properly secondary to its main purpose: sales.

New findings suggests that young people are rejecting traditional suburbia. If it’s true, market demand will drive more urban housing; planners need not interfere (via Beyond DC).

And last but not least, why the iPad can’t fully replace newspapers.

I recently presented at the Leadership Institute’s Online Fundraising Workshop. As I wrapped up, I offered a list of four sites I often visit to brush up on online marketing and fundraising best practices.

1. The Agitator. With its analysis of innovative fundraising techniques, marketing studies and psychology, The Agitator provides online fundraisers with excellent food for thought. Authors Tom Belford and Roger Craver frequently remind us, for example in their recent post on personalized e-mail communication, that online marketing follows the same principles as other marketing.
2. Copyblogger. Copyblogger provides excellent insight into how to write engaging and effective copy for the web, whether for e-mail, blog posts, landing pages or social media. The series on headline writing, for instance, helped redefine how I create copy for the web and for e-mail.
3. Media Post’s E-mail Insider. Geared more towards advanced users, E-mail Insider is nonetheless a must-read for those trying to raise funds online. Many posts are gems, like this best-practices checklist that both new and established e-mail program managers can return to again and again.
4. Connection Café. Written by consultants at non-profit software company Convio, Connection Café is geared to online fundraising novices and includes good posts on the basics, like a list of simple rules for e-mail composition.