“One thing we have really found is a place to feel comfortable being ourselves,” Dean said. Americans are segregating by their politics at a rapid clip, helping fuel the greatest divide between the states in modern history.

One party controls the entire legislature in all but two states. In 28 states, the party in control has a supermajority in at least one legislative chamber — which means the majority party has so many lawmakers that they can override a governor’s veto. Not that that would be necessary in most cases, as only 10 states have governors of different parties than the one that controls the legislature

This can only end badly as conservatives seem to have no problem ruling over land in empty states.

  • EthicalAI@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    The problem is that the real divide still is urban vs rural, not state v state. I always lived in red states and am very leftist. There’s always strong leftist communities in every red state, even in small cities. Most states are purple.

    • PostmodernPythia@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      People know that. But power isn’t divided that way. So when people look to alternatives to federal power, they usually look to the existing political infrastructure of states, not, for instance, less-organized/-powerful counties.

      • misguidedfunk@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Democrats need to offer financial incentives to help bring back jobs to rural areas. There needs to be something to counteract republicans using Christian out as a means to get votes. Until that happens you want see the left winning anything in rural areas. It sucks but the democrat platform tends to heavily favor cities.

        • ArcticCircleSystem@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          We also need to figure out how to get people to stop choosing the worst possible reponses to crises all the fucking time. “Oh wages are stagnating? I want to commit genocide against trans people now! THIS MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND I AM A GOOD FACTS AND LOGIC BOY!!1!” ~Strawberry

          • misguidedfunk@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Ignoring their economic issues is not an option. Republicans run unopposed in many rural areas because there is no counter to their platform.

            • ArcticCircleSystem@beehaw.org
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              1 year ago

              How do we set one up? And how do we get people to stop responding to crises by rushing over to the first dipshit that says genocide is the best response? Why was that the response for many people??? ~Strawberry

              • misguidedfunk@beehaw.org
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                1 year ago

                I honestly think the infrastructure bill is the message that needs to be pounded into their ears. So many rural areas are absolutely crumbling from an infrastructure perspective. Literally everything is old, crumbling, and jobs are leaving. Democrats need to point out where the money for projects came from and where the new jobs came from. Then build off that. Representatives always have to run off of constituents saying, what have you done for me lately? Show them and plan for their future, cause the republicans don’t have anything but identity politics.

  • Veraticus@lib.lgbt
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    1 year ago

    I agree it’s not great, but red states are actively persecuting minorities. Why would a minority willingly stay in a red state at this point? And if you’re an ally or liberal or whatever and see what’s happening clearly, why would you stay and be a part of it?

    Polarization is the logical outcome of Republican policies.

    • millie@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Honestly? We should cut them off.

      All these red states rely on blue states for their money. They literally couldn’t afford to have roads and schools if it wasn’t for federal funding paid for by states with healthier economies and more liberal policies (no coincidence).

      So let’s take their fucking money. They want to drive the country into the dirt? Let them pay their own way and we’ll sit in our relatively progressive bubbles until they realize they do, in fact, need us.

      • Veraticus@lib.lgbt
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        1 year ago

        100% agreed, not sure why we’re subsidizing an entire third world country stapled to America that wants to drag us back to the dark ages and use our own money to do so.

        • millie@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          I’ve contacted my state level Democratic party representatives! You should too! If enough people bring the idea forward, maybe they’ll use it!