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It's definitely rich that US Senators are asking "Who the hell elected you?", while they are busy gerrymandering, suppressing voters and actively dismantling de

It's definitely rich that US Senators are asking "Who the hell elected you?", while they are busy gerrymandering, suppressing voters and actively dismantling democracy.

Jtsummers 6y ago
States establish their own districts, not the federal government. And senators (these days, not originally) are elected by popular vote within their state, districting doesn't matter. Now, the US House of Representatives is the way it is largely due to gerrymandering.
- TMWNN 6y ago
  It's hopeless. More than once I've seen claimed that "gerrymandering" affects the Electoral College and got Trump elected. Yet more proof that the word, like "fascism", simply means "anything I don't like".
  - Jtsummers 6y ago
    The electors for the Electoral College in 48 of the 50 states are determined by the states' popular vote, gerrymandering has no effect on this. In Maine and Nebraska, it is partially by congressional district. Gerrymandering had no impact on Trump's election. He was elected because he got the right states to pull out an Electoral College majority despite losing the national popular election. Gerrymandering's impact is on the US House of Representatives and state legislatures. Most executive offices are elected by statewide popular vote.
    - pksebben 6y ago
      the shame is that gerrymandering is just the tip of an absolutely massive iceberg. if you add up all the ways in which decisions are divorced from popular interest you get a very, very bleak picture of anyone's ability to claim fair representation.
- LatteLazy 6y ago
  On the other hand, all states no matter how small get 2 senators. That means you can carry a majority in the senate with <12% of the population to support you. Maybe this is why US policy is so far to the right of US public opinion... Maths: https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/2jnmbe/i_did_the_math_12_of_the_us_population_controls/ https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/2jnmbe/i_did_the_...

It's definitely rich that US Senators are asking "Who the hell elected you?", while they are busy gerrymandering, suppressing voters and actively dismantling democracy.

Jtsummers 6y ago

States establish their own districts, not the federal government. And senators (these days, not originally) are elected by popular vote within their state, districting doesn't matter. Now, the US House of Representatives is the way it is largely due to gerrymandering.

TMWNN 6y ago
It's hopeless. More than once I've seen claimed that "gerrymandering" affects the Electoral College and got Trump elected. Yet more proof that the word, like "fascism", simply means "anything I don't like".
- Jtsummers 6y ago
  The electors for the Electoral College in 48 of the 50 states are determined by the states' popular vote, gerrymandering has no effect on this. In Maine and Nebraska, it is partially by congressional district. Gerrymandering had no impact on Trump's election. He was elected because he got the right states to pull out an Electoral College majority despite losing the national popular election. Gerrymandering's impact is on the US House of Representatives and state legislatures. Most executive offices are elected by statewide popular vote.
  - pksebben 6y ago
    the shame is that gerrymandering is just the tip of an absolutely massive iceberg. if you add up all the ways in which decisions are divorced from popular interest you get a very, very bleak picture of anyone's ability to claim fair representation.
LatteLazy 6y ago
On the other hand, all states no matter how small get 2 senators. That means you can carry a majority in the senate with <12% of the population to support you. Maybe this is why US policy is so far to the right of US public opinion... Maths: https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/2jnmbe/i_did_the_math_12_of_the_us_population_controls/ https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/2jnmbe/i_did_the_...