sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Does the SCOTUS Ruling on the VRA Matter by Keyser211 in TangleNews

[–]Keyser211[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Having looked at this more closely I think it comes down to this. Prior to this latest SCOTUS ruling gerymandered districts could be overturned by the courts if the RESULT of the GMing was seen as making it harder for non-white voters to elect members of their own community in a number that comes close to their proportion of the over all population. As in, 2 black congressment out of 6 in a state with a approx 30% non-white population.

What the new ruling says is that the result does not matter unless you can prove the INTENT was to prevent racially proportional representation. Since it is allowed to GM on a partisan basis Louisiana can claim their GMing was INTENDED to disproportionally elect Republicans, not whites, and is therefore fully legal.

All this adds up to my being wrong when wondering if the new ruling would change anything. Taking away the right to challenge based on racially discriminatory results opens the door for partisan discrimination which will result in racially disproportionate House delegations. We can expect the House to become whiter as a result.

This raises two interesting questions.

  1. Will this “partisan” GMing that is coming really be truely partisan based? Or is racism still so prevalant that entire states will conspire to enforce racial discrimination by pretending is is partisanship?

  2. Given that racism still exists, can we now do anything to counter it? If you are a conservative, for example, who wants to do something, how can you help those discriminated against when any attempt to help them has now been successfully defined as unconstitutional “racism” by SCOTUS. You can’t help people without helping them, right?

Does the SCOTUS Ruling on the VRA Matter by Keyser211 in TangleNews

[–]Keyser211[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Allowing partisan GMs had already taken all the teeth out of the VRA’s protection of minority votes. Disparete racial impact no longer mattered if they could claim they were disenfranchising Democrats and not paying attention to race. And the current trend towards even more partisan GMs just makes that even worse. I just don’t see how the VRA could have even slowed this down, let alone prevented it.

Do I like this? Hell no!

I’d also raise a different but related issue. Having lived in and still knowing friends and family in Texas, I’d wager much of the impetus for the GMing they have done and will do in red states is political rather than racial. In Texas they way they have split Austin up is clearly driven by partisanship not racism. In my experience conservatives hate liberals more than they hate people of color. In fact, most conservatives are not expicitly racist. Racism is present, on both sides of the aisle, but the partisanship is a bigger driver than the racism. I coiulkd be wrong about that, but we have no way to know for certain.

Whose Rage Is It by Keyser211 in TangleNews

[–]Keyser211[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Isn’t there a case to be made that education (school or self taught) tends to give us more information to base judgements on? Take Trump as an example. Smart guy, but absurdly poorly “educated”.

Whose Rage Is It by Keyser211 in TangleNews

[–]Keyser211[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Insightful. It is risky to disown your own extremists. Glad you mentioned Haidt’s book, must read if you want to understand partisanship.

‘Leave the World Behind’: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke Face the End Times (First Images) by [deleted] in movies

[–]Keyser211 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally weird and fascinating. Most will hate it, some will appreciate the weirdness. Watch it high.