Democratic West Virginia senator calls the Inflation Reduction Act, hailed as ‘biggest step on climate crisis’, a ‘radical agenda’

  • wrath-sedan@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    I agree the gerrymandering of state districts can definitely influence the outcome of statewide races, but they cannot directly gerrymander the senate race because the only “district” is the state itself which cannot be redrawn.

    So looking at the original question, are they gerrymandering the senate seat? No, they can’t. Are they unfairly influencing outcomes of the race through other means? Probably. Will it make a difference in terms of WV voting for a dem that’s not Manchin (ie is it “real”)? Probably no because the only thing keeping a (more or less) Dem senator in a state that went 70% for Trump is incumbency and his special relationship to the coal industry.

    • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’m not sure why you’re getting downvoted, it’s a fair answer even though I think gerrymandering is definitely being set up across the country and I don’t agree with that part.

      • wrath-sedan@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Haha it’s ok. I’m not saying that gerrymandering isn’t a problem or that it’s not happening literally all the time as much as possible.

        All I mean is that you can’t gerrymander a federal senate seat. You can gerrymander the state legislature districts that control many of the aspects of voting for that statewide seat, but you cannot redraw (ie gerrymander) Joe Manchin’s senate seat without some minor civil wars with WV’s neighbor states.

        • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          I agree with that part, but what’s the difference if it’s not direct? Regardless, it sounds like it’s a pretty red state anyway.

          • wrath-sedan@kbin.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            To me it’s just about the definition of the word. It would be incorrect to say, “The WV legislature gerrymandered Joe Manchin’s senate seat.” Because gerrymandering means redrawing districts. You can totally say “The gerrymandered WV legislature passed laws that make it harder for Joe Manchin to be elected.” While gerrymandering affects the outcome, what they’re doing to Joe Manchin’s district is not gerrymandering.

            • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              Lol, you’re a writer and/or journalist, yes? I’m not and not that worried about getting it just right, the results are the same.

                • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  I was pretty sure we were agreeing and don’t get me wrong, I love people who love words because I don’t understand it but still find value in that way of thinking. I like art and physical beauty and I think word people probably also like art in the meanings of words and the ideas they create. You can see them happy when they read a good story and look up, its awesome.

              • wrath-sedan@kbin.social
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                1 year ago

                @PeleSpirit Ha, recovering grad student. No worries, shitty voter suppression is shitty voter suppression at the end of the day.

                (tagging you because for whatever reason my comment wasn’t appearing as a direct reply, weird!)

                • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  1 year ago

                  Lemmy is acting a little fucky, I answered you but I don’t know where it went, lol.

                  I was pretty sure we were agreeing and don’t get me wrong, I love people who love words because I don’t understand it but still find value in that way of thinking. I like art and physical beauty and I think word people probably also like art in the meanings of words and the ideas they create. You can see them happy when they read a good story and look up, its awesome.