TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The General US Politics Thread

Go To

Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.

Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.

If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules when posting here.


In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

HilarityEnsues Since: Sep, 2009
#39276: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:16:53 PM

I didn't say you said that. I said you implied it.

...Curses, foiled again. >:(

So some people here have speculated about how the GOP could end up splitting into multiple parties. Apparently, Herman Cain's been doing the same thing.

GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#39277: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:18:28 PM

Here's an idea: the party that's out of power gets to divide the districts. HOWEVER, they have to divide the state up into TWICE as many districts as are necessary. The party that's in power gets to merge pairs of districts, as they choose, so as to come to the right number.

I want to see this tried out just for the hell of it.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#39278: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:19:17 PM

Hopefully more states follow California's example. Doubtful but it would be nice.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#39280: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:21:34 PM

Here's an idea: the party that's out of power gets to divide the districts. HOWEVER, they have to divide the state up into TWICE as many districts as are necessary. The party that's in power gets to merge pairs of districts, as they choose, so as to come to the right number.

That's part genius, part lunacy.

I mean, you could have half of Long Island and the suburbs of Buffalo being the same Congressional District in New York...

This needs to be implemented somewhere. You think the districts are crazy-looking now...

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#39281: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:24:08 PM

...I'm wondering how that plan deals with third parties...

edited 8th Nov '12 9:24:18 PM by deathpigeon

Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#39282: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:24:55 PM

The same way every plan deals with third parties: Frak them.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39283: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:27:06 PM

[up][up][up][up][up][up][up]

You could argue that all that proves is that Democrats are worse at gerrymandering.

Also I'd lop off two more Ds in Georgia.

=

edited 8th Nov '12 9:28:08 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#39284: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:44:42 PM

No, you should be adding one more since it's only 5 D 9 R for a state that went 45 O 53 R.

In fact, I totally forgot to do the Deep South.

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#39285: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:50:33 PM

Or maybe just have some sort of independent commission draw up the district boundaries like we do in Canada. Crazy idea, I know.

GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#39286: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:52:51 PM

They voted on that in Ohio this election.

The opponents of that proposal fearmongered about it, saying that it would place their congressional representation in the hands of a unelected government bureaucrats.

The proposal failed at the ballot box.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39287: Nov 8th 2012 at 9:57:38 PM

[up][up]

You remember when Prince Edward Island basically said "F*ck that" in response to an independent commission's proposed electoral map back in 2006?

That would be most of our States reaction to this proposal.

edited 8th Nov '12 9:58:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#39288: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:02:39 PM

Is there any way that redistricting could just be assigned to a computer and left out of human hands?

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#39289: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:05:58 PM

No. There is always a human element. In the case of a computer program, it's in the form of the programmer.

Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#39290: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:06:53 PM

[up][up]We can't trust computers to count our ballots(because people might program them to cheat)... Why would we trust them to redistrict states?

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#39291: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:06:59 PM

Not when people have something to gain by redistricting.

Edit: One day, I shall have my revenge on all ninjas.

edited 8th Nov '12 10:08:03 PM by Ekuran

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39292: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:14:19 PM

This waii

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#39293: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:16:55 PM

[up]Why did John Kerry post a picture of himself when commenting on Mitt Romney?

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39294: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:19:10 PM

[up]

Honestly this just reminds me of how similar the Elections of 2004 and 2012 have been.

edited 8th Nov '12 10:32:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Chalkos Sidequest Proliferator from The Internets Since: Oct, 2010
Sidequest Proliferator
#39295: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:20:24 PM

Remember that state senate candidate from Maine whose opponents tried to slander her by telling everyone she played World of Warcraft? Well, she won. And even better, Blizzard sent her a copy of Mists of Pandaria, signed by the entire dev team. D'aww.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#39296: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:22:18 PM

Then why not take geography out of the equation entirely? Just take a list of every single resident in the state, then use a random number generator to assign each one to a given representative.

Granted, that would create some extra hassle while voting, since polling places would need to have forms prepared for every district in the state instead of just for one.

Talby Since: Jun, 2009
#39297: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:22:40 PM

[up][up]That's awesome.

She plays an orc rogue, too, debatably the coolest race/class combo in the game. smile

edited 8th Nov '12 10:22:55 PM by Talby

Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#39298: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:28:58 PM

Honestly this just reminds me of how similar the Elections of 2004 and 2012 have been

Didn't John Kerry get the nomination because Howard Dean and most of the other Democratic candidates eliminated themselves?

The resemblance between the two election years is uncanny...

Then why not take geography out of the equation entirely? Just take a list of every single resident in the state, then use a random number generator to assign each one to a given representative.

The simplest reason: People move between states/turn 18/die every decade...

It's easier to keep things geographical. Because if people move, there won't be the same number of people in a city/on a block... Whereas if you give each person a number, you need to make sure that person is still in the state every 10 years...

edited 8th Nov '12 10:32:26 PM by Swish

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#39299: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:32:21 PM

[up]Expanding on that:

The president and his old and somewhat erratic Vice-President are challenged by a politician from Massachusetts who picks a very young and ambitious congressman for his running mate

And the race mostly depends who gets Ohio (and to a lesser extent Florida).

The Incumbent wins with a slight lead in the Poplar Vote. Because despite the President's sagging approval ratings, the challenger is prone to flip-flopping and has a boring, robot-like personality.

edited 8th Nov '12 10:33:41 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#39300: Nov 8th 2012 at 10:34:37 PM

I mean, you could have half of Long Island and the suburbs of Buffalo being the same Congressional District in New York...
I forgot to mention they'd have to be share a geographical boundary at least.

Some sort of computer algorithm that would sort and mix geographical areas for maximum variety in each riding would be nice.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.

Total posts: 417,856
Top