Also an excellent case of why a tiny number of sociopaths can destroy an entire game-theoretical landscape.
What is strange about game theory is that the very definition of “homo economicus” or “rational actor” is a sociopath. One wonders whether game theory is, at its heart, a sociopathic reduction that gives mathematical grace to fundamentally unsound societal practice.
Great concise analysis - I find that, while multi-polar traps seemingly leave us with no choice but to participate in them, the slow growth of awareness around these devious forces does provide hope for an eventual offramp.
Spread the word so we may all slowly become more aware of these multi-polar traps, participating in them along the way so as to avoid, as you say it, losing important voices, until we can collectively look around at ourselves, all laugh in understanding at what's going on, and then sit down together to create better solutions. Maybe some day.
The pass of this radical gerrymandering is very bad.
First of all, when Trump asked Texas to redraw their congressional map, I expressed concerns that conservatives cannot beat Democrats by being left. What has happened now reflects exactly what I feared, it has backfired on Republicans.
Gerrymandering started with the Dems. There are 21 congressional seats in New England area; with 40% conservatives, there are ZERO Republican seats.
This VA gerrymandering is way more aggressive than in any Republican state.
It’s possible in Virginia because the state is well mixed enough except for the far west which is small enough population for one deep red district.
Northeastern California looks like a big red area on the map, but is so low population that it is easily folded into other districts. California has 4-5 red districts now but all are south of Tahoe.
Trump’s background includes WWE wrestling where scripted conflict and cheating is a routine tool for getting audience engagement. Neither party wins much from flouting and destroying the long-customary rules, but for Trump the degradation and outrage is just a successful day’s work.
Electoral College corresponds 1-1 with House+Senate seats and there the competitive degradation you described long since ran to completion: 48 states vote all their electors as a bloc for the state PV winner. This was not at all anticipated in 1787 but evolved as each state tried to maximize its influence.
House districting is not in the Constitution either. It was customary from the beginning with at-large seats a much less common exception, but was only legislated in 1967 by an ordinary law which could be changed. If repealed, we might see states moving to at-large or even awarding all House seats to the party with plurality in a single statewide vote. If it’s good enough for the President…
Also an excellent case of why a tiny number of sociopaths can destroy an entire game-theoretical landscape.
What is strange about game theory is that the very definition of “homo economicus” or “rational actor” is a sociopath. One wonders whether game theory is, at its heart, a sociopathic reduction that gives mathematical grace to fundamentally unsound societal practice.
Great concise analysis - I find that, while multi-polar traps seemingly leave us with no choice but to participate in them, the slow growth of awareness around these devious forces does provide hope for an eventual offramp.
Spread the word so we may all slowly become more aware of these multi-polar traps, participating in them along the way so as to avoid, as you say it, losing important voices, until we can collectively look around at ourselves, all laugh in understanding at what's going on, and then sit down together to create better solutions. Maybe some day.
Thanks for voting.
“ and then sit down together to create better solutions. “
When do we ever get to sit down together and create better solutions? I’ve never been invited.
The pass of this radical gerrymandering is very bad.
First of all, when Trump asked Texas to redraw their congressional map, I expressed concerns that conservatives cannot beat Democrats by being left. What has happened now reflects exactly what I feared, it has backfired on Republicans.
Gerrymandering started with the Dems. There are 21 congressional seats in New England area; with 40% conservatives, there are ZERO Republican seats.
This VA gerrymandering is way more aggressive than in any Republican state.
https://x.com/endwokeness/status/2046761390967271427
“Virginia was 52% Democrat in 2024
Dems will now get 90% of its districts
Meanwhile, GOP states:
Alabama: 64.8% GOP (2024)
71.4% GOP districts in Alabama
Ohio: 55.2% GOP (2024)
66.7% GOP districts in Ohio
Georgia: 50.7% GOP (2024)
64.3% GOP districts in Georgia
Mississippi: 61.2% GOP (2024)
75% GOP districts in Mississippi
Arizona: 52.3% GOP (2024)
66.7% GOP districts in Arizona
Florida: 56.1% GOP (2024)
71.4% GOP districts in Florida
Missouri: 58.4% GOP (2024)
75% GOP districts in Missouri
Texas: 56.2% GOP (2024)
73.7% GOP districts in Texas
Kansas: 57.2% GOP (2024)
75% GOP districts in Kansas
Kentucky: 64.6% GOP (2024)
83.3% GOP districts in Kentucky
Indiana: 58.7% GOP (2024)
77.8% GOP districts in Indiana
North Carolina: 51.0% GOP (2024)
71.4% GOP districts in North Carolina
Louisiana: 60.2% GOP (2024)
83.3% GOP districts in Louisiana
Tennessee: 64.1% GOP (2024)
88.9% GOP districts in Tennessee
South Carolina: 58.2% GOP (2024)
85.7% GOP districts in South Carolina
I hope moderate don’t be used by radicals to push our country into a dictatorship ruled by one party.
It’s possible in Virginia because the state is well mixed enough except for the far west which is small enough population for one deep red district.
Northeastern California looks like a big red area on the map, but is so low population that it is easily folded into other districts. California has 4-5 red districts now but all are south of Tahoe.
Trump’s background includes WWE wrestling where scripted conflict and cheating is a routine tool for getting audience engagement. Neither party wins much from flouting and destroying the long-customary rules, but for Trump the degradation and outrage is just a successful day’s work.
Electoral College corresponds 1-1 with House+Senate seats and there the competitive degradation you described long since ran to completion: 48 states vote all their electors as a bloc for the state PV winner. This was not at all anticipated in 1787 but evolved as each state tried to maximize its influence.
House districting is not in the Constitution either. It was customary from the beginning with at-large seats a much less common exception, but was only legislated in 1967 by an ordinary law which could be changed. If repealed, we might see states moving to at-large or even awarding all House seats to the party with plurality in a single statewide vote. If it’s good enough for the President…
Which is greater, the weight of your vote, or the moral gravity of your mimetic influence? Your thinking is correct. The lesson you taught is wrong.
I held my nose while I voted "Yes" today.
SAME