Submitted by Pappa_Crim t3_ye2ds0 in Maine
clhomme t1_itw7ikc wrote
Reply to comment by Cockroach-Jones in Admit it Maine is Alaska's Mini Me by Pappa_Crim
On review Alaska doesn't lead, but its close to the top.
Interesting to note - other than the two "territories" in the US with no representation or right to vote (and which are starved for resources - DC and PR), almost all states at the top are Republican controlled.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itwalws wrote
I can’t speak for other states, but I live in Louisiana which usually has the highest murder rate in the country. Democrat governor. And the two cities that give us that murder capital status are New Orleans (mainly) and Baton Rouge, both overwhelmingly blue cities with Democrat mayors.
clhomme t1_itwcnod wrote
You make the point exactly.
In LA Dems are in the majority and therefore elected the governor.... who... has no power at all really.
The highly gerrymandered legislature on the other hand is super-majority Republican in both houses and has been since 2011 which makes no sense if you think about it.
So the legislature makes the laws. What laws have Republicans passed in the last 10 years to "reduce crime". They have a veto proof majority no?
(Note crime is more a function of the strength of a society than it is of the criminal penalties imposed by the society).
The Senate is R27, D11; R68, D33. It is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. Source 2
This is yet another example of American Anti-Democracy.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itwkdf8 wrote
Sorry, had to leave you reminded me to go to the early voting booth and tick all the Republican boxes :)
clhomme t1_itwrsi1 wrote
Good thinking! It'll be a hoot having the biggest laughing stock governor in the country again!
Especially some dude who left Maine the instant he left office, and came back only to run again. Its great having a Floridian run for Gov.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itws5q1 wrote
You’ll be happy to know I don’t follow Maine politics much these days, I’m in Louisiana (former Maine resident).
clhomme t1_itwspjn wrote
Oh! So, good news, your party will win far less votes than the Dems, but will have super majorities in your house and senate, because, that's what democracy is all about.
The tyranny of the minority.
[deleted] t1_itwu5xp wrote
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[deleted] t1_itwu6ww wrote
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clhomme t1_itwug4s wrote
"essential" = meaning ensuring the party with the least support and the least number of voters gets to completely control power over the majority, yeah, that.
Hell of a system.
The only country in the western world where the losers get power.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itwvfk6 wrote
If you look at a political map of Louisiana, you’ll see that’s it’s a vastly red state. There are only three small blue areas on it- New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport. I don’t think those three cities should have all the say in every matter. The territories should be represented.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itwu1f6 wrote
Yeah because otherwise New Orleans and surrounding areas would make all of our decisions for the rest of eternity. See how well they manage their city? I lived there for years, I had to flee like a refugee.
It’s not all about the popular vote, and that’s also why the Electoral College is absolutely essential.
clhomme t1_itz1uey wrote
Oh, so the minority - really no matter how small - gets to dictate to the majority just because they live in a large suburban population center.
Can you point to the constitutional provisions that say "in all elections in which a majority of the population colludes in high density locations, the outlying rural populations, notwithstanding being a minority of the population, shall have super-majority right to control all branches of government."
I don't remember that bit from Civics class.
I do, however, remember that the electoral college was a compromise to get the we-own-black-sub-humans (and want to keep it that way) part of the continent to sign onto the constitution.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itz3g4q wrote
Yes, it has to work that way. What do the bigger cities care about the rest of the state? Same with the country. What do the residents of LA and NYC care about the auto industry in Michigan? They don’t. Do they care about laws affecting farmers in Midwest agriculture? No they don’t. Therefore these areas would become literal flyover states for politicians. They’d never have to pander to anyone outside of the densest population centers, and their lawmaking would reflect that. I could go on but it should be really obvious to you why it is the way it is, and I don’t have the patience or inclination to break it down for you honestly.
clhomme t1_itz4mx0 wrote
Oh give me a damned break. The same dumb question can be asked about rural areas - what do farmers care about the need for inner city homeless assistance or drug interventions?
They answer is hopefully they do.
But neither is a justification to give the minority the absolute right to dictate to the majority. I know this is a hard concept to understand, but in literally every democracy in the free world, the party / person who wins the most votes is deemed elected to office by the people.
It is only in this country where 10% of the population think they can dictate to the other 90% "because the live in cities."
That's utterly moronic.
I completely understand your argument. I just reject it as anti-democratic. It's how we end up with abortion bans in states where the VAST majority of the population support abortion rights.
Cockroach-Jones t1_itzh6cn wrote
Like I said, I don’t have the patience or inclination to break it down into molecules and spoon feed it to you, luckily the better system prevails regardless of your approval.
clhomme t1_itzi5me wrote
Must be nice living in a world where the guy who gets 40% of the vote gets 66% of the power.
That's not democracy. F that.
Doogwhan t1_itz08dw wrote
We swapped! I fled Jefferson Parish For Oxford County. I miss the food, but y'all can keep the palmetto bugs.
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