Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[sdk]

Though I don't live there now, I'm a native of California, the 39.5 million residents of which make it the largest state in the USA. Wyoming is a dinky state of 573,000. By that very special magic by which each state gets two Senators, the Senate thereby gives a Wyoming resident 70 times more political influence than their California counterpart. Meanwhile, poor Washington DC has a larger population than Wyoming but gets no representation in either house of Congress.

When people celebrate the political principle of "one person, one vote," I wonder what country they're referring to.

 

[BlueTX]

Though I don't live there now, I'm a native of California, the 39.5 million residents of which make it the largest state in the USA. Wyoming is a dinky state of 573,000. By that very special magic by which each state gets two Senators, the Senate thereby gives a Wyoming resident 70 times more political influence than their California counterpart. Meanwhile, poor Washington DC has a larger population than Wyoming but gets no representation in either house of Congress.

When people celebrate the political principle of "one person, one vote," I wonder what country they're referring to.

To continue the theme, the same principle applies in the Electoral College which allows for a vote in Wyoming to have more weight in determining who is POTUS than someone in California (or my home state of Texas).

 

[riddick]

Though I don't live there now, I'm a native of California, the 39.5 million residents of which make it the largest state in the USA. Wyoming is a dinky state of 573,000. By that very special magic by which each state gets two Senators, the Senate thereby gives a Wyoming resident 70 times more political influence than their California counterpart. Meanwhile, poor Washington DC has a larger population than Wyoming but gets no representation in either house of Congress.

When people celebrate the political principle of "one person, one vote," I wonder what country they're referring to.

"One person, one vote" only counts if the electoral college is obsolete. And, even then, it's still HEAVILY weighted towards states with little population.

 

[RAFUH]

Very sad news

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[RAFUH]

They've been fired

 

[glorydaze]

They've been fired

I just can't comprehend how anybody would find this amusing.

 

[RAFUH]

I just can't comprehend how anybody would find this amusing.

Knowing a decent number of emergency services types, it's usually meant in the vein of gallows humor or black comedy.

 

[MrPerfectNot]

"One person, one vote" only counts if the electoral college is obsolete. And, even then, it's still HEAVILY weighted towards states with little population.

And if we don't have a designed republic that intended to balance the popular will ( through the House and proportional representation) and the States as co-equal entities (the Senate). It often sucks as a model ( I would argue current times as a case in point), but EVERY model has weaknesses. While the Constitution and laws define structure, it's our society and norms that make it function. Just changing a structure doesn't automatically fix the problems we are experiencing.

 

[Barry Rathbone]

Love American conventions so compelling with their raucous enthusiasm, straw boaters and placards against the back drop of a rogue gunman popping up at any minute.

"Oh say can you seeeeeeee by the dawn's early light ......"

 

[Ruairi77]

Knowing a decent number of emergency services types, it's usually meant in the vein of gallows humor or black comedy.

I know a couple of cops and I'm fairly shocked at how short and basic the training is.
I dont envy them at all as it's a very brave profession to choose, especially with such a heavily armed population,
But christ, it takes years to become a lawyer, doctor or even electrician. It takes months to become a gun toting cop.
Mental aptitude should be every bit as important as physical.

 

[Ruairi77]

And if we don't have a designed republic that intended to balance the popular will ( through the House and proportional representation) and the States as co-equal entities (the Senate). It often sucks as a model ( I would argue current times as a case in point), but EVERY model has weaknesses. While the Constitution and laws define structure, it's our society and norms that make it function. Just changing a structure doesn't automatically fix the problems we are experiencing.

the structure was designed to be changed to fit the society it serves. The problem is the two party system that thrives on manipulating the rules for their own interests.
The first step is to pass ranked choice voting where you are and then work on breaking the duopoly. It's not what the founders intended.

 

[Harryflashman]

They've been fired

Have they ? I can’t find any reference to that online , I’m not saying your wrong by the way more that I just can’t find that particular story .

 

[RAFUH]

And if we don't have a designed republic that intended to balance the popular will ( through the House and proportional representation) and the States as co-equal entities (the Senate). It often sucks as a model ( I would argue current times as a case in point), but EVERY model has weaknesses. While the Constitution and laws define structure, it's our society and norms that make it function. Just changing a structure doesn't automatically fix the problems we are experiencing.

Part of the problem is the House of Rep membership (and thus the electoral college which is based on a state's combined number or senate and house members) hasn't grown as the population has. This distorts the voter to rep/electoral vote ratio state to state

 

[RAFUH]

Have they ? I can’t find any reference to that online , I’m not saying your wrong by the way more that I just can’t find that particular story .

I thought I read it somewhere. Maybe I misread it