Proportional Representation

[Independent thinker]

In 2021, all Republican lawmakers voted against H.R. 1, which would have required all states to establish independent redistricting commissions.

LOL. Democrats already gerrymandered and then have either passed laws or wanted to pass more laws to stop gerrymandering so that they could keep what they had already gerrymandered.

 

[Independent thinker]

Why do there need to be districts in the first place? It's not like most Congressmen actually represent the people of their district, is it? Most will look after themselves and those who give them enough money.

While I agree with that, the way it has always been set up is for candidates to give voters representation and those candidates have to convince their voters to vote for them.

 

[Independent thinker]

Regarding the issue of proportional representation more broadly brings me back to thinking about the absurdity of the 39M people in CA being represented in the Senate by 2 elected officials while residents of WY get the same number of seats with a population of 588,000.

It makes a sham out of the concept of representative democracy.

What would be a sham is California and New York and the big cities forcing their laws and values on the entire country.

 

[Care4all]

Good God, that sounds like bigger government to me.

Maybe not? Our representatives had 30,000 residents per rep, when we began...now we have something like each representative has 750,000 residents in each district....I don't know the History on the change....it might even be in the constitution as 30,000??

How can anyone be heard or be represented by their congressman, when he has 750000 constituents?

 

[Independent thinker]

Maybe not? Our representatives had 30,000 residents per rep, when we began...now we have something like each representative has 750,000 residents in each district....I don't know the History on the change....it might even be in the constitution as 30,000??

How can anyone be heard or be represented by their congressman, when he has 750000 constituents?

We already owe 37 trillion dollars. According to your post, we would have to make government 25 times it's current size in order to have that same representation. That means 25 times more hands in the til than we have now. 37 trillion would then be but a drop in the bucket.

 

[dblack]

Multi rep districts - ideally one per state - would completely neutralize gerrymandering. And RCV would neutralize lesser-of-two-evils fear mongering. But gerrymandering and fearmongering are staples of the two party system, and they won't let go of them without fight.

 

[citygator]

LOL. Democrats already gerrymandered and then have either passed laws or wanted to pass more laws to stop gerrymandering so that they could keep what they had already gerrymandered.

I mean. That’s not remotely true. You aren’t even trying. I guess the question is why? Why would you be opposed to finding out information?

The bill required all states to unwind gerrymandering.

 

[Independent thinker]

I mean. That’s not remotely true. You aren’t even trying. I guess the question is why? Why would you be opposed to finding out information?

The bill required all states to unwind gerrymandering.

It is true. Your fact denials don't change that. Hey, I'm for an allout war with gerrymandering. Let's see just how much everyone can gerrymander. It favors the red team because we have a lot we can gerrymander while the left have already done most of theirs. So, let's have at it!

 

[citygator]

It is true. Your fact denials don't change that. Hey, I'm for an allout war with gerrymandering. Let's see just how much everyone can gerrymander. It favors the red team because we have a lot we can gerrymander while the left have already done most of theirs. So, let's have at it!

Honestly, I dont think you are even trying.

There are 12 States with zero Democrats that make up 54 seats.
There are 7 States with zero Republicans only making up 38 seats

 

[Independent thinker]

Honestly, I dont think you are even trying.

There are 12 States with zero Democrats that make up 54 seats.
There are 7 States with zero Republicans only making up 38 seats

View attachment 1152827

You seem to be forgetting that 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 democrat states.

 

[BlindBoo]

You seem to be forgetting that 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 democrat states.

Der Trumpenfurher controls a little under half the states. The others are either Free from his control or split between the two parties.

State Partisan Composition

Every election impacts the partisan composition of state legislatures. Current party control of state legislatures and government can be accessed below.

www.ncsl.org

 

[Independent thinker]

Der Trumpenfurher controls a little under half the states. The others are either Free from his control or split between the two parties.

State Partisan Composition

Every election impacts the partisan composition of state legislatures. Current party control of state legislatures and government can be accessed below.

www.ncsl.org

About 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 of the states being blue states.

 

[BlindBoo]

About 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 of the states being blue states.

Less that half of the states are red enough to be Trump States.

 

[Independent thinker]

Less that half of the states are red enough to be Trump States.

About 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 of the states being blue states.

 

[braalian]

Horrible idea. It would be better to just trip;e the size of house

How is that a good idea?

There’s too many congressmen already

You want a House made up of 1300-plus members?

 

[citygator]

You seem to be forgetting that 2/3's of the states are red states to 1/3 democrat states.

Nope. I am constantly educating you guys on reality. I wonder when it will sink in that you cant bullshit me:

20 States All Dem Senators: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington

23 States All Republican Senators: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia

7 States With Mixed Senators: Arizona, Georgia, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin

 

[WelfareQueen]

I've been seeing an interesting debate on X lately regarding proportional representation as a remedy to the gerrymandering being done by both parties. Take a state like Massachusetts, for example, which has nine House districts. Everybody in all parties would run and based on the popular vote total, At-Large House seats would be rewarded based on the percentage won by each party. In 2024, Kamela Harris won 61% of the vote and Trump won 36%. That would break out to Massachusetts being rewarded six Democrats in the House and three Republicans, whereas a Republican hasn't won a House election in Massachusetts since 1994.

This works the other way too. Texas was 56 - 42 Trump. That would leave the Republicans with slightly over half of the districts and Democrats with that rest, compared to the gerrymander they just passed which could leave Democrats with potentially only five seats out of 38.

Some believe that this would motivate more people to get out and vote since many people don't bother given the heavily partisan lean of where they live in their portion of the state. They feel there is no point. With gerrymandering becoming more abusive by the majority party in each state, fewer elections are becoming competitive. The results are almost predetermined by the way the districts are drawn.

Thoughts?

Not a bad idea but the Dims really rocked gerrymandering in states like Massachusetts and Illinois. They always take the low-ball crap to an extreme. Now the GOP is playing hardball back. Per everything I have seen if this is taken to its logical extreme the GOP will net 20 additional seats in the House. That's where this thing is headed. Can anyone seriously blame the GOP? And keep in mind the three states with the biggest population loss are California, Illinois, and New York. The two fastest growing states are Texas and Florida. Ooopsie!!! Push out another few million illegals and Dims are in serious trouble.

Keep in mind, whenever the Dims play hardball, it always comes back to bite them in the ass. This is another case in point.

 

[braalian]

why are you leaving out the rest of the people in the state that dont want either party??

How are they left out?

If a third party candidate won a sufficient percentage of the vote they’d be awarded a seat like any other candidate

How exactly is that different from the current system in terms of locking out third party candidates?

You do realize that under the current system, not one third party candidate holds a seat in the House?

Even the two “independent” senators caucus with one of the big 2 parties, making their “independence” meaningless.

 

[JWBooth]

Nope. I am constantly educating you guys on reality. I wonder when it will sink in that you cant bullshit me:

20 States All Dem Senators: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington

23 States All Republican Senators: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia

7 States With Mixed Senators: Arizona, Georgia, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin

Both of our Senators are GOP

 

[dblack]

How are they left out?

If a third party candidate won a sufficient percentage of the vote they’d ...

And if they're not in a "party"?