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Abolishing the death penalty and legalizing marijuana on the same day. I've no idea how the legislature works in Virginia, but that it has me stunned.
by Stevvo 6y ago
Abolishing the death penalty and legalizing marijuana on the same day. I've no idea how the legislature works in Virginia, but that it has me stunned.
- eyelidlessness 6y agoThe state was purple-red for my whole life there (I moved away in 2002). It’s shifted gradually with the urban/rural map and recently the suburban gap. It has one of the most suburban-dense and prosperous counties in the country. It’s been a tipping point in recent elections, and increasingly politically aligned with solid blue “left coast” states all of which have legal cannabis. I’m looking at it as my childhood home and so it’s not unfamiliar. But it’s so good to see Virginia keep growing.
- nickff 6y agoIt seems like the continual growth of the federal government is creating a 'blue stream' of liberal voters into Virginia (federal agency employees are overwhelmingly democrats).
- Ericson2314 6y agoThe federal employee count isn't ballooning. Most of the DMV growth is hanger-ons (lobbyists, non-profits, contractors).
- eyelidlessness 6y agoThis is definitely not it, although it looks like it because of geography. The trend is actually just urban/suburban growth and suburban leftward shift. It can be seen elsewhere. And while the biggest growth is near the capitol, there is far more an influx of contractors, tech workers, and halo industry to support/profit off of that high-income growth.
- ur-whale 6y agoYou seem to imply that cannabis laws follow some sort of red/blue divide. This, is - IMO - naive at best, disingenuous at worst, especially if you consider that libertarians and like-minded folks increasingly align themselves with the right (in light of the US left having completely removed individual freedoms from their political agenda in favor of collectivist goals).
- ausbah 6y agoCannabis laws do follow a red blue divide still. Most Americans thankfully support its legalization, but its support is still slanted towards Democrats with something like 80% vs 50% support compared to Republicans. [1]. I also think it's worth remembering that personal freedoms can be attained through collectives goals. Everyone is better off when they don't have to worry about starving if they lose their job or going into debt if they are get sick. [1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/irisdorbian/2020/11/09/record-high-percentage-of-americans-support-marijuana-legalization-says-new-poll/?sh=51c5290c154d https://www.forbes.com/sites/irisdorbian/2020/11/09/record-h...
- elil17 6y agoIt’s so obviously a red/blue issue for politicians. Decriminalizing marijuana is literally part of the Democrat’s party platform. Of states that have implemented marijuana legalization, only one has had a red legislature (and that was Alaska, which is an outlier in so many ways). Of course, many conservatives people support decriminalization and/or legalization, but that doesn’t mean it’s a policy priority for their representatives. Also, the claim that the US left has completely removed individual freedoms from their political agenda is definitely not true. Reducing incarceration, reducing immigration enforcement, and making it easier to vote - which are all also part of the Democrats “party platform” - are undoubtedly about individual freedom.
- deathlight 6y agoSee the anti-legalization effort that just passed in Idaho.
- dkjaudyeqooe 6y agoTrump/right wing craziness accelerated an existing movement in VA politics.
- jacob2484 6y agoNot everything is attributable to Trump... Had friends priced out of NJ (high cost blue state) moved to DC area (lower cost , for now, state).
- jgwil2 6y agoTrump accelerated the abandonment of the GOP by suburban and educated voters. These trends line right up with Virginia's demographic changes over the last 20-30 years. So it's not all attributable to Trump, but he certainly accelerated shifts that were already ongoing.