Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court

[Themius]

on an international axis, America is hard right in compared to other nations of the west.

international axis.

Republicans and Taliban? Whats the difference?

[Xeones]

international axis.

Republicans and Taliban? Whats the difference?

One was able to enforce their will on the people and one isn't quite there yet.

[alexw]

international axis.

Republicans and Taliban? Whats the difference?

Different religions.

That's about it.

[Kiri]

People need to just stop crying about 'individual voting power'. You're one person, you get one vote that adds to a greater whole.

Often when people talk about 'voting power' it's because they want their vote to be as close to a deciding vote as possible. I don't know if they if they can't grasp the concepts of sums and democracy but no one's vote should be worth any more or less than someone else's.

But...that's exactly the problem that these people talk about? Taking aside winner-takes-all issues for the moment, in the presidential election, people vote for electors on the electoral college for their state. And due to how the proportions are right now, a vote in California is worth less fractions of an elector than the vote of a person in a much smaller state. Thus, the vote itself has less influence on who becomes president and hence is worth less. That is what voting power can mean in that context.
In some democracies, votes are indeed worth the same. In my country, we directly vote for the equivalent of a president and hence my vote is worth as much as the vote of a person in the nation's capital.

This is not the case in the US. Heck, it even has citizens that do not get a vote to add to the vote in any way, i.e. people living in Puerto Rico, for example.

Voting power is really not just about sums, it's mostly about fractions (which include sums, but are a bit more complex).

[PACOX]

But...that's exactly the problem that these people talk about?

And exactly what I was getting at.

Arguments against popular vote are typically rooted in one wanted their vote to be worth more while other people's votes are worth less. They want their vote to be a greater part of the whole and don't want/can't comprehend you vote should be 1:1 not 3:1 not 1:2, etc.

[Kiri]

And exactly what I was getting at.

Arguments against popular vote are typically rooted in one wanted their vote to be worth more while other people's votes are worth less. They want their vote to be a greater part of the whole and don't want/can't comprehend you vote should be 1:1 not 3:1 not 1:2, etc.

Ahh, your post kind of sounded like you meant the opposite, sorry.

[Karrotlord]

The country isn't left at all. Centrists and and anti-GOP once every 10 years at best. The political landscape would look a lot different even the country was American left.

The Democrats as a whole just started to be pulled into a bit from center-left.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...last-30-years/

Look at the actual policies the majority of people support. Not the politicians. The populace wildly supports left wing policy, but conservatives are just better at messaging. Just look at Obamacare being hated while the ACA is vastly loved even though they're the same damn thing.

[Draco-Onis]

Look at the actual policies the majority of people support. Not the politicians. The populace wildly supports left wing policy, but conservatives are just better at messaging. Just look at Obamacare being hated while the ACA is vastly loved even though they're the same damn thing.

I agree however those people don't vote like most Americans so their opinions have no influence on the political process.

[Karrotlord]

I agree however those people don't vote like most Americans so their opinions have no influence on the political process.

Can you clarify which people you're referring to?

[Draco-Onis]

Can you clarify which people you're referring to?

Around or little over half of Americans who can vote do not.

[Karrotlord]

Around or little over half of Americans who can vote do not.

Ah yeah, I don't know about other countries but Americans do seem to loathe voting, except for the elderly. Though I'm sure a certain party has had some hand in that whether through educational issues or general electoral fuckery.

[Adam Jensen]

I wouldn't put it past them. If those actions do transpire in the lame duck session, it will essentially be a mandate to expand the courts.

Mitch is blind if he doesn't see how his actions will lead to a counterattack when the Democrats take power.

[kaid]

Mitch is blind if he doesn't see how his actions will lead to a counterattack when the Democrats take power.

I don't see the filibuster surviving if dems take senate and whitehouse. They are not going to let mitch just sit chuckling no for 2 years.

[Edge-]

Mitch is blind if he doesn't see how his actions will lead to a counterattack when the Democrats take power.

He's not. He's banking on Democrats not having the stones to counterattack and instead want to return to "normal".

And that's a bet I honestly wouldn't be too uncomfortable making, myself. And I want Democrats to counterattack.

[cubby]

He's not. He's banking on Democrats not having the stones to counterattack and instead want to return to "normal".

And that's a bet I honestly wouldn't be too uncomfortable making, myself. And I want Democrats to counterattack.

Agreed. Plus, what he's done is DONE. The Democrats countering is all theoretical until it happens.

[Draco-Onis]

Agreed. Plus, what he's done is DONE. The Democrats countering is all theoretical until it happens.

Biden doesn't seem enthusiastic about doing anything last I heard he wants to put a committee to study it for six months which is politics for doing nothing. However with Amy Cult Barrett on the court he may not have any choice as they will overturn or destroy Roe V. Wade, the ACA, DACA and a number of things before he even takes office assuming he wins.

[Fugus]

Biden doesn't seem enthusiastic about doing anything last I heard he wants to put a committee to study it for six months which is politics for doing nothing. However with Amy Cult Barrett on the court he may not have any choice as they will overturn or destroy Roe V. Wade, the ACA, DACA and a number of things before he even takes office assuming he wins.

If they do that, they create an even bigger demand from the voters for him to deal with them at which point he can expand the courts and then directly pass laws that codify the things they fought against and then direct that challenge straight to them.

But honestly, Biden better actually show some balls on this one.

[cubby]

Biden doesn't seem enthusiastic about doing anything last I heard he wants to put a committee to study it for six months which is politics for doing nothing. However with Amy Cult Barrett on the court he may not have any choice as they will overturn or destroy Roe V. Wade, the ACA, DACA and a number of things before he even takes office assuming he wins.

It's my opinion that his lack of enthusiasm is for show, because this kind of issue would be very divisive during the election. He's batting it aside and keeping it on the down low until [and if] he wins, then hopefully taking the Commission and expanding the court. That's just my take on the situation.

But the shoving-it-down-our-throat nomination process of Justice OfJesse was incredibly bad, in almost every category, given their actions with Gorsuch. I've also heard some minor rumblings about Justice Thomas perhaps retiring if Trump loses and a lame duck nomination to replace. I almost hope that happens, because it would almost leave no other choice for Biden.

- - - Updated - - -

If they do that, they create an even bigger demand from the voters for him to deal with them at which point he can expand the courts and then directly pass laws that codify the things they fought against and then direct that challenge straight to them.

But honestly, Biden better actually show some balls on this one.

I hope he does. Both Justice OfJesse and Kavaboof shouldn't be on the bench. Bringing the court up to a much larger number (17-29 total) would nullify those immoral confirmations and set the country up for 20+ years of progress.

- - - Updated - - -

There is a very outside chance that if Biden wins but the Senate doesn't flip, they will do that Lame Duck session replacing Thomas. It sounds outlandish, but this is McConnell we're talking about.

[Hammerfest]

Mitch is blind if he doesn't see how his actions will lead to a counterattack when the Democrats take power.

Mitch's actions are the counterattack. Everything he is doing today was made possible by the Harry Reid Senate.

[Themius]

Mitch's actions are the counterattack. Everything he is doing today was made possible by the Harry Reid Senate.

Counterattack to what??? Let’s remember what the MAJORITY votes are.