BaratundeDec 3, 2022
What’s good Mastodon!? What do we call ourselves? Mastos? Mastodoners! Doners? FEDERALISTS?? Please tell me we are federalists. I would love to reclaim that word.
Show threadJon (now at neuromatch.social)Dec 3, 2022

@baratunde does that mean people who don't like mastodon are anti-federalists? i like it!

also, hi!

Show threadCarl Gay

@jdp23 @baratunde I don't know...I'm not an expert on federalism, but my sense is that it's a major reason why we (in the USA) can't Have Nice Things. The bulk of the population is fairly progressive (favors abortion, gun laws, and public services) but states have lots of power so nothing gets done at the federal level?

Anyway, as I say, I'm not an expert, this is just the sense I get.

Dec 3, 2022 at 1:03amWeb
Show threadFahri Reza 🍉Dec 3, 2022
@sigue @jdp23 @baratunde even at state level it's not representative of the population at some states, CMIIW
Show threadCarl GayDec 3, 2022
@dozymoe @jdp23 @baratunde Is it really that hard to type "correct me if I'm wrong"? I spent precious time looking that up.
Show threadFahri Reza 🍉Dec 3, 2022

@sigue @jdp23 @baratunde yes

(sent from android)

Show threadCarl GayDec 3, 2022
@dozymoe It is up to you to decide whether you want to be understood.
Show threadInspiredDec 3, 2022
@sigue @jdp23 @baratunde I think you are right but there are consequential differences here. If state government is powerful due to federalism it is hard to move if you don't like the choices they make. It is relatively easy to move in the Fediverse. Not to diminish the difficulties, but easier than selling your home and likely finding a new job. Also, some of the additional problems are that national politics are health influenced by one state two votes in the Senate irrespective of population.
Show threadCarl GayDec 3, 2022
@inspired @jdp23 @baratunde I bet where you said "health influenced" you meant "heavily influenced". 😂 Yes, that's absolutely a big part of the problem.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Dec 12, 2022
@sigue @jdp23 @baratunde No, we in the USA just have an unbalanced federation. Germany also has a federal system, but it isn't biased in favor of rural states and can't be gerrymandered.