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1/7 A thread on the odds of Rs successfully using voter-suppression to hold power.
It's easier for Rs who legislatively control Red and Purple states (e.g., GA, PA, WI) to suppress/dilute voting in poor urban/rural areas than in more affluent/increasingly diverse suburban areas.
It's easier for Rs who legislatively control Red and Purple states (e.g., GA, PA, WI) to suppress/dilute voting in poor urban/rural areas than in more affluent/increasingly diverse suburban areas.
2/7 Poor urban and rural areas with super-majorities of POC have less political power than more affluent areas. They have less money to contribute to political campaigns and less resources to fight off gerrymandering and reductions in voting locations, hours, staff, etc.
3/7 OTOH, suburban areas (increasingly diverse and usually, but not invariably, more affluent) can push back via political contributions. They also have better infrastructure and better access to transportation (cars, etc.) and thus can more easily find ways and places to vote.
4/7 As the GOP continues to make itself more and more repugnant to suburban areas (which shifted toward Blue in the 2020 elections at the national/federal level), the GOP burdens its ability to compensate for shrinkage of its core demographic cohort (older and whiter).
5/7 IOW, imo, voter-suppression can get the GOP only so much bang for its buck if it's not advancing policies attractive to most voters.
So, what can progressives and moderates do to fight the anti-democratic/racist/misogynist/voter-suppressing GOP?
Three things come to mind.
So, what can progressives and moderates do to fight the anti-democratic/racist/misogynist/voter-suppressing GOP?
Three things come to mind.
6/7
1. Advance popular policies, as the administration is doing with its Covid-19 bill.
2. Invest in voting in poor urban and rural communities. (E.g., fund voting equipment and staff through grants to cooperative local governments).
3. Litigate to block voter-suppression.
1. Advance popular policies, as the administration is doing with its Covid-19 bill.
2. Invest in voting in poor urban and rural communities. (E.g., fund voting equipment and staff through grants to cooperative local governments).
3. Litigate to block voter-suppression.
7/7 This is all basic (and ongoing!), but it makes sense to me.
Thoughts?
End.
Thoughts?
End.
