4 ms·

The Senate gets the less populous states heard. The EC still results in most of them being ignored. Just because its dynamics mean California also gets ignored

The Senate gets the less populous states heard. The EC still results in most of them being ignored. Just because its dynamics mean California also gets ignored doesn't mean the EC doesn't actually make picking up voters in small non-swing states even less important and votes in Florida even more important. The five most popular states add up to less than half the population and have very different political climates and priorities.

the_only_law 4y ago
Is Florida much of a swing state anymore. It seems Atlanta makes Georgia a bigger battleground than Florida which has quickly become a cultural/political center for one side in particular.
- notahacker 4y ago
  Definitely seems to be trending Republican, but it's one the Dems will care much more about trying to pick up half a million votes in than a million votes spread across smaller states which still won't flip and wouldn't necessarily be worth as much if they did.
indymike 4y ago
> The Senate gets the less populous states heard. Yes. But this gives no say in selecting the head of the executive branch at all. > The EC still results in most of them being ignored. The reason that swing states even matter is the EC. Without the EC, the only thing that matters is the popular vote, and only the large cities would matter in electing the President. It's a hack that is inherently unfair to populous areas, but is the main reason joining the Union makes sense to less populated states.
- notahacker 4y ago
  The votes of large cities matter no more than an equal number of voters in rural counties in a popular vote (and you'll hear at least as much difference between the priorities of different groups of voters in the city). With the EC, votes in most states matter even less (not only are there not many voters to appeal to, picking up extra votes there isn't going to change the EC outcome). Just because California now gets ignored doesnt mean candidates don't also care even less about Alaska or Hawaii. It's not even inherently unfair to populous areas, it's just extraordinarily skewed towards a few contestable states, mainly the large ones. A single suburb of Philadelphia and Miami matters more for a real world Presidential election campaign than most states.
  - indymike 4y ago
    A single district can be very important in deciding a state. As can a single small state in a close election.

the_only_law 4y ago

Is Florida much of a swing state anymore. It seems Atlanta makes Georgia a bigger battleground than Florida which has quickly become a cultural/political center for one side in particular.

notahacker 4y ago
Definitely seems to be trending Republican, but it's one the Dems will care much more about trying to pick up half a million votes in than a million votes spread across smaller states which still won't flip and wouldn't necessarily be worth as much if they did.

indymike 4y ago

> The Senate gets the less populous states heard. Yes. But this gives no say in selecting the head of the executive branch at all. > The EC still results in most of them being ignored. The reason that swing states even matter is the EC. Without the EC, the only thing that matters is the popular vote, and only the large cities would matter in electing the President. It's a hack that is inherently unfair to populous areas, but is the main reason joining the Union makes sense to less populated states.

notahacker 4y ago
The votes of large cities matter no more than an equal number of voters in rural counties in a popular vote (and you'll hear at least as much difference between the priorities of different groups of voters in the city). With the EC, votes in most states matter even less (not only are there not many voters to appeal to, picking up extra votes there isn't going to change the EC outcome). Just because California now gets ignored doesnt mean candidates don't also care even less about Alaska or Hawaii. It's not even inherently unfair to populous areas, it's just extraordinarily skewed towards a few contestable states, mainly the large ones. A single suburb of Philadelphia and Miami matters more for a real world Presidential election campaign than most states.
- indymike 4y ago
  A single district can be very important in deciding a state. As can a single small state in a close election.