We're working on prop I-194 this election, which would ban corporate money in politics in a unique way (you should read about it and encourage your state to adopt a similar proposal). Based on everything I've seen around here I expect it to pass. That won't stop the Supreme Court from overturning the will of the voters but at least it will piss a lot of people off when that happens.

Visited my great-aunt's Civil War era farm several times as a child. I cried every time I was dragged away. I would kill to unlock videos from my childhood as a West Virginia movie.

Peter Santenollo's videos about Appalachia, especially WV, have left me quietly weeping.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-s2I6yz23o0av

For those that grew up without, this man performs real investigative journalism all by himself. It's rather shocking to see after all this time. You get inside places in America you didn't know existed. He pulls no punches, but neither does he fuck with people for drama, and he'll never lead the interviewee for a certain answer. Just the facts ma'am.

Cities are usually blue bubbles. You have to drill down to counties for a clear picture.

And rock and roll food!

I still argue with republicans about this and their argument is if we change it republicans will never win. What a stupid, depraved country.

As a non-American with a very poor understanding of US politics by state, I had assumed that Florida and Texas would be on this list.

Those states really hate America and Americans.

I could have structured it more clearly, but yeah, +11 is 5:4, and the +20 of 60/40 is 3:2.

Indianapolis is a huge chunk of the population and is significantly more reasonable than the majority of the state land area!

Now compare it to a chart of the states with the worst educations...

They love taking all our american tax money.

I fucking hate it here...

Used to. Historically Charleston was solid purple, often blue. After the Civil War there were more people of color living there than white, and the first African American rep came from SC-1 during Reconstruction.

But after Republican Nancy Mace won in 2020 against a Dem incumbent, the Republicans in Columbia redistricted SC-1 (Charleston) in a gerrymander to ensure that most of the voters of color went to Jim Clyburn's nearby district, SC-6, making SC-1 dependably red, at least by the metrics of the time. Like, it wasn't enough that she won, they were trying to make it bulletproof.

I never understood that until recently, but now it makes sense.

The thing to keep in mind about South Carolina is that it still has a corrupt, extractive economy: slavery may be gone, but there are still effectively two states -- two classes -- and a very large percentage of working class people, esp people of color, that regularly get shafted by everything having to do with the government. It creates all kinds of interesting political situations, some of which work for Republicans in power and others that scare the shit out of them.

Like earlier this summer when South Carolina noped out of further race-determined gerrymandering post-Callais while states like Tennessee gladly forged ahead: South Carolina wanted to, but they knew they were already on the fine line between gerrymander and dummymander with the last redistricting they pushed through. The Rs in Columbia know there is a huge percentage of the population that hate them. And because SC is an ex-slavery state, they are very, very good at corruption and knowing where to stop. Other states, not so much. So Columbia put brakes on it at the last second, promising to revisit redistricting next year.

TL;DR: South Carolina is a masterclass for the rest in twisting and thwarting the popular will and vote of its own citizens, and has been working on its game since its colony days.

Fuckin idaho.

I looked it up. Oh god yes. I'd vote for that in a heartbeat.

Thank you for commenting, because not being anywhere near there this is the first I've personally heard about Montana's good efforts in this direction, and national media doesn't really talk about these state efforts much.

That's like 35 billionaires, a driver and a maid.

Untrue, Florida isn't marked

Texas has several large urban areas that kept it closer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election_in_Texas (But not as close as in 2020.)

Florida has pretty much the same thing going on. Both states used to be more "purple" but right-wing movements and media consolidation have been a growing problem for decades.

And other quality of life measures that they have regressed on typically, brain drain and other regression they choose with bad policies.

We did do that

Not for very long. I grew up in No Child Left Behind which was the last shitshow to screw up the education system.

Yea... I was absolutely shocked Missouri and Kansas weren't on the list.

Especially Kansas which hasn't voted for a dem president since 64 and over 90 years since a democrat senator.

They're defending coal in a way but think about economic opportunity for green energy, that would replace all the work lost. Unfortunately, that is more politics.

So burn those down?

This is a made up map. The link at the bottom leads to a site where you can color in a map. Without an actual source to back any of this up it’s literally nothing.

Bit of toss up between New Mexico, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas depending on the data source.

And which states are taker states?

Lowest education rates?

Least life expectancy?

Highest cost of medical care?

Highest crime rates pet capita?

I can go on, but I'm sure they're also oh sooooo business and tax friendly too, right?

That's why they are R

You try living there and tell us how you feel

I just compared to the percentages on Wikipedia and they all check out. It may be a made up map but it seems to be an accurate one.

Great, now let's see per capita where those states rank when it comes to welfare consumption - surprise surprise, it's always projection with that crowd.

Yet another reason I cry for them. Imagine West Virginia pivoting to green energy and leading the US. But they won't, because dad, papaw, great-grandad and his dad were miners and made enough to feed a family.

texas and ohio wasn't on the list? wao

TX will be bluer than OH in our lifetime. Never thought I’d see the day lol.

You're right. That essay is excellent. Appreciate the link.

Probably 59%

That changed my view as nothing I've ever read on any subject. Of course I'll soon take a beating as if I'm apologizing for Trump's in trying to understand them.

Florida is like right in the middle of the rankings. It's old people that move here that suck. The kids are alright.

#1 in special education

Kansas isn't as crazy red as you think... Its certainly conservative but they have a Dem governor they've re-elected already. The larger towns are more mid-west liberal.

Nor North Carolina.

Depends on how much time it gets to disenfranchise blue voters

West Virginia used to be a union stronghold. They'd be ashamed of what that state has become.

His real name is Jason K. Pargin and he’s a pretty fantastic author and podcaster. Yet another of the Cracked diaspora that is still doing great work.

Can we just give them their own backwards country called dumbfuckastan?

While that's informative and was genuinely interesting: is this really TIL material? There are plenty of communities where this fits perfectly, but I feel like there has been an increase of political posts disguised as TIL, just because oh I just read about this.

I was in DFW for a while and it felt very capitalist but not MAGA compared to where I live currently

I live here and am convinced that its the most idiotic state in the entire country.

I think Texas and Florida end up on the news a lot because of the high population and disproportionately red government compared to the voter base, but they're not the reddest states population-wise.