Zeb LarsonI feel like I see a lot of older liberals talk about how voter apathy is the enemy and not gerrymandering or voter suppression. It fascinates me. Do they just not want to admit to themselves that the game is rigged? I vote in every single election, but I live in a heavily gerrymandered state that lives under one-party rule and have no illusions about how powerful my vote is.
Catherine Schmidt@Zeb_Larson being an “older liberal”, I know it is both. The percentage of Americans that vote in any elections is disgraceful. In the 2022 election only 49% of people voted in my county in Texas. Meaning 25% decided for the entire county who won.
@lillyfinch But what congressional district do you call in? Or state legislative districts? How competitive are they? Can the municipal races meaningfully exert political power? Here in Ohio, the state legislature was trying to block Cleveland from building bike lanes at one point because they just didn’t like it. And if everybody did show up, would they all be Democrats? It’s easily to fall into the trap of thinking that we’re the only ones on the sidelines.
@lillyfinch I know it still matters for state ballot issues, the senate, and a presidential election, but we need to have an honest conversation about limitations, too. And that’s to say nothing of voter suppression that keeps people away from the polls. Is it solely the fault of those who don’t vote?
@Zeb_Larson no…that is not what I was trying to say. I was just saying that as one of the old liberals…I know it isn’t just voting…but it matters. I am in Texas where they are right now legislating the value of one’s vote away. The gerrymandering here is amongst the worst in the country…..I get it…. Here in Texas…the last governor actually tried to stop towns outside of Austin from protecting heritage oaks from developers. He want to take down a heritage oak at the governors house.
@lillyfinch With you there. I'll always vote -- and I'm in a state where Republicans successfully stole congressional and state legislative maps, and so far as I can tell they'll do it again next year. (The good folks of Cincinnati did manage to flip one long-standing red congressional seat last year; proof that not all hope is lost. On the other hand...our state legislature is a pit).
Scott Jackson@Zeb_Larson @lillyfinch Some of these questions are self-reinforcing. The degree of electoral participation of your coalition is a pretty big factor in the district's competitiveness. And the historical competitiveness influences future campaign investment and attention from party hierarchies. The reason people emphasize getting out the vote is that it is the one factor that has the potential of changing the status quo. Causing a solid district to swing starts with a shift in turnout.
@scottmmjackson @Zeb_Larson Thanks. I am in Texas trying to at least, turn it purple. Gerrymandering is a real problem…and look what they just did to Harris county….but turn out is important as you know.
@lillyfinch @Zeb_Larson Originally from Houston myself. Had a political sign in my front yard set on fire as a kid and still have the burn scar from trying to put it out. It's been a long road to having any representation at all.
@Zeb_Larson Texas….I am in Texas…….and a democrat….