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@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

16/7/26, 2:01 pm0 reposts2 likes

Mary Sisson

@msisson.bsky.social

16 July

(The discussion was specifically about rural voters, and I was interested to see the GOP capture of rural voters coincide with the 2008 massive GOP election loss & decision to lean HARD into gerrymandering--read David Pepper's "Laboratories of Autocracy" for more) www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...

Mary Sisson

@msisson.bsky.social

16 July

From last night bsky.app/profile/msis...

Mary Sisson@msisson.bsky.social

I certainly agree that it’s not the only factor, but creating an environment where you cannot elect Dems at a district level has a larger effect. It makes Dema powerless—if you want to affect things where you live, then your vote, money & efforts need to benefit the GOP, otherwise it’s a waste.

Mary Sisson

@msisson.bsky.social

16 July

bsky.app/profile/msis...

Mary Sisson@msisson.bsky.social

(We’re not even getting into the bit where, if you do elect a Dem governor, the gerrymandered GOP state legislature strips that office of power. There are so many facets to this, it’s never “just” gerrymandering.)

Mary Sisson

@msisson.bsky.social

16 July

Gerrymandering is about power and the =display= of power. Want something done in your community? Want a change in policy? Well, if you live in a GOP gerrymandered district, you must go to the GOP for help with any of this. Don't go to the Democrats! They can't help you!