I just returned from voting in Virginia in the special election on the Democratic gerrymandered districts. It was fast and easy. Polling place workers said that they had a couple of hundred voters in just the last few hours. I hope that you will participate if you live in the state.
I have long opposed gerrymandering by both parties.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger captures the hypocrisy of politicians attempting to justify these power grabs. Even before this vote, she was widely criticized for running as a moderate but then veering to the far left as soon as she was elected. Her polling numbers reflect a “stunning” drop in support due to the bait-and-switch.
No issue is more glaring than her vocal opposition to gerrymandering in any form before she ran for governor. In 2019, when the Supreme Court halted redistricting, Spanbergger declared:
“This is good news for Virginia and the country. Gerrymandering is detrimental to our democracy and it weakens the individual voices that form our electorates. Opposing gerrymandering should be a bipartisan priority.”
However, now that Democrats control the legislature, Spanberger changed her position and is pushing the most extreme gerrymandered map in the nation — a move that would take an almost evenly divided delegation and wipe out all but one Republican district. In a state considered purple and divided down the middle, the Democrats would seize 10 of 11 absurdly crafted districts, including one called “the lobster” for its contorted shape.
The Democrats are insisting that they are merely responding to Texas, but this is far more extreme than in other states. Moreover, this is a purple state where Democrats are not even trying a modest accommodation for roughly half of the voters. It is a simple muscle play to suspend the state constitution despite a prior commitment to bar gerrymandering.
Spanberger believes in fighting gerrymandering unless it works to her party’s advantage. Others have shown greater integrity. For example, Republicans in Indiana control the legislature but have refused to gerrymander the state, even “temporarily.”
The radical proposal is only possible because Virginia was once widely cited as a model of fairness in voting. Spanberger and the Democrats have now shattered that model.
Not only are the Democrats wiping out the representation of roughly half of the state (in the name of protecting Democracy), but polls show that the voters are sharply divided. A slight majority is polling in favor of the move. Yet, that division is not reflected in the measure itself, which lacks any moderation or restraint. Democrats are simply wiping out almost every Republican district because they can.
The fact that Democrats are ignoring the unfairness to half of their neighbors shows how rage politics has taken hold of the country.
It is a quick vote on a single-issue ballot, but Virginians could send a powerful message of principle by defeating this measure and standing by their long-standing opposition to gerrymandering.
Virginia’s former Lt Governor, Justin Fairfax (Democrat), murdered his wife early this morning in the basement of their residence, then killed himself in their upstairs bedroom, while their 2 children were in the home. It is impossible to describe the tragedy and devastating consequences for the children. This from Democrats of Virginia who now control the state legislature and governor’s mansion, passed sweeping anti-gun legislation, and disenfranchise Virginia voters with manipulated, purposely fraudulent ballot verbiage to force gerrymandering. Worse is the following info on Justin Fairfax
Former Va. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Called Gun Violence a ‘National Health Crisis Emergency’ 3 Years Before Shooting Wife
In private practice, Fairfax represented the families of gun violence victims in lawsuits against Virginia’s state government and municipalities
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-va-lt-gov-justin-192607581.html
Justin Fairfax talked the talked, but gave in to wrath, losing all self-control. A dead wife and orphaned children are in Justin’s wake of rage….for what purpose other than caving in to lack of self-control.
We are a country of no self-restraint, no introspection, just full throttled vices. Witness the comments section of this forum, largely sputterings by the same <5 people who hide behind Anonymous with the same copy/paste day in, day out. Evolutionary forces can not work fast enough to rid society of such toxic forces.
Freedom….it comes at a price of self-regulation.
Districts aren’t needed. County, and city maps elect by direct vote. State is direct vote. House and Senate direct vote for reps. BFD. Electors are taken from number in congress for president. What are you doing?
^^^ It’s not an all or nothing take on electoral and the Independents are now the largest party.
Top vote getters are on everyone’s ballot regardless of party affiliation.
🤪
New political term to be used in future elections: getting Spanbergered!
“Pope Leo XIV has delivered striking remarks condemning global leaders who, he said, are ‘ravaging the world’ by spending billions on war.”
– NPR
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Big surprise! The pope and the catholic church want to rule the world and take all of its money.
You don’t say!
~$90 Billion – Global Revenue of the Catholic Church
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“If you want a single best, all-in number—including both reported revenue and what can reasonably be imputed across the system—here is the cleanest, defensible estimate:
≈ $90 billion per year (global, all Catholic entities combined).”
– ChatGPT