Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
One Person, No Vote
One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy | Carol Anderson
104 posts | 22 read | 79 to read
From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of White Rage, the startling--and timely--history of voter suppression in America, with a foreword by Senator Dick Durbin. In her New York Times bestseller White Rage, Carol Anderson laid bare an insidious history of policies that have systematically impeded black progress in America, from 1865 to our combustible present. With One Person, No Vote, she chronicles a related history: the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Known as the Shelby ruling, this decision effectively allowed districts with a demonstrated history of racial discrimination to change voting requirements without approval from the Department of Justice. Focusing on the aftermath of Shelby, Anderson follows the astonishing story of government-dictated racial discrimination unfolding before our very eyes as more and more states adopt voter suppression laws. In gripping, enlightening detail she explains how voter suppression works, from photo ID requirements to gerrymandering to poll closures. And with vivid characters, she explores the resistance: the organizing, activism, and court battles to restore the basic right to vote to all Americans as the nation gears up for the 2018 midterm elections.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
MsLeah8417
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Since you asked @ravenlee

Here‘s our year in books! #SheSaid

*They are all tagged below in the comments if anyone wants to find them and can‘t read the tiny type in the picture.

See All 27 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Oct. 2020(my nightmare/horror pick) (edited) 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Dec. 2020 (Group fiction vote) (edited) 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa May 2021 (Group Fiction pick) 3y
vlwelser If you had to pick, which was your favorite? 3y
ravenlee Awesome, thank you! 3y
SamAnne My favorite was Caste. But I‘m only a little ways into Wordslut. But loving the subject! 3y
MallenNC I‘ve gotten something from each of the books. I think my favorite would be Know My Name. I also really loved the two novels. 3y
KathyWheeler I was wrong — I started with Caste. I‘ve loved them all. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser Great question….They all gave me something. But I think One Person, No Vote, and Invisible Women will be two that I refer back to and recommend a lot. And Know My Name will always hold a spot in my heart. 3y
staci.reads I love that you shared this! I didn't join until Caste, so I love seeing what came before! 3y
Chelsea.Poole Excellent selections, thanks for sharing! I‘ve read and was moved by some of these. I need to read the others I haven‘t yet. How far do you plan titles in advance? 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Chelsea.Poole We try to plan out at least 6 months in advance, usually further. That way anyone can put a book on hold or request an interlibrary loan and has enough time for it to come in to read together. We‘ve also been lucky this way to have a few go on kindle sale in the months before we read it, and can pick it up knowing it coming up soon. Right this minute, we have planned out most of next year, with a few open spots waiting to fill. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Chelsea.Poole Would you like me to tag you on the upcoming books posts, so you can see what‘s coming up next? 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage So many of these are meaningful and important. But Tomorrow Will Be Different hit the hardest for me. Sarah is so brave and strong. 🌈 3y
Chelsea.Poole @Riveted_Reader_Melissa wonderful! I would need a bit ahead of time to hopefully get the title from the library to read along with you all. And yes!! Please do tag me in your posts! ♥️📚 3y
48 likes27 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

I was going to post this tomorrow, but since it came up in our #SheSaid discussion today!

Happy Anniversary!

Here‘s to our first book, 1 year ago!
To all the great books since!
And to many, MANY more! 💙

Thank all of you, whether you‘ve been in one discussion or a bunch, our discussions are always the best!

vlwelser ❤❤❤ thank you so much for organizing this and making it happen. 3y
See All 12 Comments
KathyWheeler Happy anniversary! I only became part of this with Invisible Women; I‘m going to go back and read some of the others. 3y
Deblovestoread Happy anniversary! So grateful for this group and the books that I've read! #shesaid 3y
sabyym Ayy this is incredible !! Happy 1 year to you 3y
ravenlee Happy anniversary! I remember seeing this then but not being able to commit. I‘m glad to have joined the party now. By the way, is there a list of the previous books all y‘all have read? 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @ravenlee I believe I have a list, let me look. 3y
Suet624 THANK YOU! You‘ve been fantastic at organizing and keeping it going. 3y
MallenNC Thank you for leading this group. We‘ve read so many good books and the discussions have helped make them even more meaningful. I‘m looking forward to more #SheSaid this year. 3y
tenar Thank you so much for hosting and organizing! It‘s been a real joy to participate. Interestingly, even though I have a pretty big recency bias when thinking of how much I enjoyed books, One Person, No Vote still holds up as one of my favorites we‘ve read. It was a fantastic start! 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar Yes, that was a good one. I think I might want to re-read it every 2 years before every election, just to remind myself it‘s nothing new and we need to keep vigilant. 3y
43 likes12 comments
review
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image
Pickpick

In my mind, voter suppression is the number one issue of equality today. Its history is long and bloody. Now it may be less gory, but it‘s def no less oppressive. Anderson lays out everything up until about 2018. Then the daily news takes over. Necessary reading for every American. She makes it easy to wrap your brain around the unwrappable.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021 #resistlist #socialjustice #readresistvote

Megabooks Stacking! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Megabooks It‘s a must. And just 5-6 hours on audio. 3y
Leftcoastzen I got a lot out of this book. 3y
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Leftcoastzen Yes, it‘s short but mighty! 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m so glad you finally got to this one! I read it right before the last election in October or November…it‘s so powerful, and the problem seems to be getting worse instead of better! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Voter suppression does seem progressively worse and more widespread. So the topic is just as relevant as ever. I admired that you could read it at that point — I was knee deep is everything politics and it was too much. Then it was recently on sale at Audible and I grabbed it. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa It was one of the first books I picked fir #SheSaid, so I had motivation to actually read it. And at the time as they were removing drop boxes etc…then it seemed so relevant…but it‘s gotten even more so since. 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Good strategy to encourage yourself to read it!! 3y
73 likes6 stack adds8 comments
blurb
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image

Long past time to start this. But more relevant than ever.

64 likes1 stack add
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Thank god! First thing they need to do is dig through McConnel‘s desk, dust off the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and pass it.... because after this the suppression laws and loopholes are going to quadruple from state legislatures and once they are passed it takes forever to overthrow them through the courts.

DGRachel Can we make that the second thing with the first thing being prosecuting Trump, his enablers, and every freaking insurrectionist at the Capitol? 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @DGRachel Nope, because if it isn‘t first, they‘ll gerrymander themselves and twist laws to get themselves more seats in 2 years, and none of those investigations will come to fruition. Without fair voting we can‘t complete any of the things that NEED to be done. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @DGRachel But yes, it‘s already written and approved by the House, McConnell just refused to bring it to a vote. It will take 2 seconds...then investigate & prosecute them all. 4y
See All 10 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @DGRachel To the fullest extend of the law, I might add. 4y
BookwormAHN And then can we either get rid of the electoral college or mandate them to vote the way the people voted so we can see an even 4y
BookwormAHN Sorry I hit the send button too early. But I think the popular vote should be the vote. In Louisiana Trump won but Biden had 48% of the vote but all our points went to Trump which still gripes me. This insanity just really pisses me off. 4y
GingerAntics SOOOOOO HAPPY ABOUT THIS!!! 4y
KVanRead Yes!! 4y
73 likes10 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Pace yourselves tomorrow!

Be prepared not to know the results tomorrow.

Some counties in PA will not even BEGIN to count their mail-in ballots until Wednesday!

Deep breath, it‘s going to be a long haul!

And if you haven‘t already, no matter what state you live, GO VOTE!

https://www.wnep.com/mobile/article/news/local/monroe-county/counting-mail-in-ba...

MoonWitch94 It‘s a marathon, not a sprint. ❤️ 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MoonWitch94 Exactly...no matter what politician tells you otherwise! 4y
GingerAntics Oh yeah, anyone who thinks it‘s going to be over tomorrow night is delusional. 4y
48 likes4 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

blurb
jen_hayes7
post image

While 9 times out of 10, I‘d rather have the hardcover or paperback version...there are some undeniable perks to having an ebook. Like almost hands free reading, for example.

LiteraryinPA This is gorgeous! 4y
jen_hayes7 @LiteraryinLititz Thanks ever so much!! 😊 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Great book! 4y
17 likes3 comments
blurb
jen_hayes7
post image

Home, sweet home. #lennox #catsoflitsy

blurb
jen_hayes7
post image

Last night of our mini-vacation. I am very sore from lots of trail walking and am spending tonight reading in the big cozy bed our cabin luckily has.

blurb
jen_hayes7
post image

Took a road trip to Southern Illinois for what might be our last chance for some wilderness adventures before winter sets in. Rented a super cute one bedroom cabin with nothing nearby but a trailhead (avoiding humans as much as possible was a must). Got in around dinner time, ate some vegan Mac n cheese, then it was time to relax. Jotted down a few things in my travel journal and now am sitting down with my book. Perfection. But I miss my cats. 😿

Eyelit Sounds awesome all around! 4y
jen_hayes7 @Eyelit It sure is/was!! 4y
18 likes2 comments
blurb
GingerAntics
post image

The GOP has admitted to placing the false ballot boxes in CA and is defending their actions. 🙄 They have been ordered to remove them. The question remains, what happens to the ballots that have already been dropped in those boxes?
#shesaid
So the GOP says one ballot box is enough for all of Dallas County, but their aren‘t nearly enough boxes in Los Angeles. Hm. I smell BS.

BookwormAHN Wow 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y
Chrissyreadit It‘s insane. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I know! I want those ballots seized, verified, and counted! And the boxes removed so no more get put into them....and it‘s election fraud, why aren‘t they arrested! I‘m so mad about this! 4y
See All 8 Comments
KatieDid927 Pure evil. 4y
LibrarianRyan Agree. 4y
GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa exactly!!! There is no concern, what so ever, that those ballots might not actually make it to be counted, especially if the GOP is pissed?! 4y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit it sure is. It just blows my mind. 4y
GingerAntics @KatieDid927 that‘s a perfect description. Any way to retain the White House. 4y
16 likes8 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Oops!

We definitely read this book at the right time! It‘s definitely made me more skeptical about these kinds of accidents.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/virginia-voter-registration-si...

#SheSaid

GingerAntics I was just thinking that. “Accident?” Sure it was. So skeptical of all of this. 4y
KVanRead Same 😡 Also just saw this. Can‘t believe courts don‘t believe this infringes on right to vote: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/appeals-court-oks-texas-governor-... (edited) 4y
See All 10 Comments
tenar Oh my goodness, a cut cable! I‘ve got another one for you: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2020/10/09/federal-judge-deni... 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics @KVanRead @tenar I‘m so glad I‘m not the only one feeling really skeptical about these “accidents” and much more alert when I see these stories. There was a time I might have thought, accident, local problem, that‘s dumb but government can be dumb...now I see a bigger picture, an overall concerted effort to thwart voting. 4y
GingerAntics @KVanRead for the love of god!!! Dallas county is HUGE!!! A person could end up driving and hour and a half one way just to drop off a ballot. Why can‘t they just be mailed? What the?! And no one can take another person‘s because of their absolutely ridiculous ID laws. Don‘t get me started on their ID laws. Been there, done that, ripped the wallet apart with my bare hands just so I could vote. 4y
GingerAntics @KVanRead Texas needs a good swift kick in the back side by the human decency giant. 4y
GingerAntics @tenar funny how these only seem to be coming out of GOP/red states. Coincidence? Accident? I think not. 4y
ChasingOm 🤬🤬🤬 4y
39 likes10 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
SamAnne Oh how disturbing, 4y
Skyrimir And my state is still trying to make sure each of our counties only has one drop box location. Doesn‘t matter that our smallest county is under 200 and our largest is about 4.7 million. Everyone gets ONE! 4y
See All 12 Comments
tenar Wow. I‘m trying to imagine this not being done with malicious intent and am struggling. I saw this story about the DOJ last week and thought of our discussions: https://www.propublica.org/article/doj-frees-federal-prosecutors-to-take-steps-t... 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage This makes me absolutely livid! 4y
KVanRead 😡😡😡 4y
GingerAntics W🤬T🤬F 😡😡😡 Anything to obstruct a constitutional vote. It‘s disgusting and deplorable. 4y
GingerAntics @Skyrimir I thought that got over turned? 4y
GingerAntics I just saw an update in my email. The California DA is part of the investigation and (what a shock 🙄) it appears the fake boxes are tied to the GOP. 4y
Skyrimir @GingerAntics it did, but then I saw this, https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/11/texas-ballot-drop-off-locations/ which is looking like they are still at least temporarily blocking multiple drop off locations. Even temporarily is too long though. 4y
GingerAntics @Skyrimir that sounds just like Abbott and Paxton. Those two are nothing but angry white men, clinging to whatever power they can hold on to for as long as possible. 4y
33 likes12 comments
review
GingerAntics
post image
Pickpick

A truly astonishing look at just how far some people will go to win an election. It‘s a shocking read, but it‘s not something we can change if we don‘t know how far it goes. Luckily, it ends on a hopeful note. Required reading for everyone who loves democracy.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Organizations that work to preserve voting rights:

#SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

We all need more of those!
#SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
KVanRead This is so basic and yet so many powerful forces in our country are fighting against it. 4y
29 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

😯🤯

#SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
KVanRead 🤬 4y
19 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
23 likes1 stack add
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Their best bet, is if people stay home and don‘t vote. Don‘t fall for that misinformation ever again, no matter what social media says, polls say, don‘t stay home, Vote

#SheSaid

Susanita I can‘t like this strong enough 4y
vlwelser I found this part fascinating. 4y
25 likes2 comments
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

We‘ve reached the end of our 1st read and this last chapter gave me a bit of hope about chipping away at the problem on piece at a time, and keep chipping.

What did you think of this last section? Our 1st book? The format for discussions? Anything else?

#SheSaid
 @JHgotham @vlwelser @KVanRead @SamAnne @GingerAntics @tenar @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Again, I saved some quotes to post, that I‘ll post this afternoon now that everyone should have read this far. 4y
vlwelser I thought this book was excellent. It was a great choice. I definitely learned a lot. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser I did as well, she does a fabulous job at taking a large and seemingly overwhelming problem, and distilling it into its basic components clearly and concisely. 4y
See All 20 Comments
GingerAntics This last chapter did give me hope. I was so glad. It was great to see that there are ways of dismantling all this madness. 4y
tenar I also thought it was excellent, and I‘m grateful I‘ve had the chance to read it and discuss it with y‘all. Thanks for hosting, Melissa! I was already a little involved in voter rights efforts, but I only knew the most basic issues facing certain demographics, and this book fleshed out my knowledge, has me looking deeper and learning more, and made me feel empowered, too! (I‘ve been text banking wildly the last few weeks lol) 4y
tenar One last thing that knocked me off my feet: “Shortly after Kemp received notification of the lawsuit, officials at Kennesaw State University, which provides logistical support for the state's election machinery, "destroyed the server that housed statewide election data."” If the hypocrisy of suppressing swaths of voters while giving lip service to fighting ‘fraud‘ had not yet been driven home.... goodness gracious. 4y
KVanRead I‘m so glad I read this. Definitely learned a lot. It deepened my concerns on a lot of levels but agree the last chapter offered some hope and also really emphasized the importance of grassroots organizations. As a voter in a blue state (CA) I often feel my vote doesn‘t do much to combat this. Not that it‘s not important—it definitely is, especially at the local level—where I know my vote last year helped elect our criminal justice reform DA... (edited) 4y
KVanRead ...but after reading this I more than ever see the importance of donating to grass roots groups with boots on the ground where they are most needed. 4y
KVanRead And yes thanks so much for hosting Melissa! Have loved our discussions. You all bring just thoughtful and perceptive comments and analysis. Almost hard to believe this is possible on social media ☺️ 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead Litsy is the best! 4y
vlwelser @Riveted_Reader_Melissa So basic. Like "how did we all not notice this?" basic. But I think that's her superpower. I'm looking forward to reading her other book. 4y
tenar @KVanRead This has been a noteworthy positive experience for me on social media, too! 😊 I so agree with your takeaway about boots on the ground in the right places, and I appreciated the list of organizations tucked in after the epilogue! It had well-known groups, but I hadn‘t encountered the Black Voters Matter Fund or the Poor People‘s Campaign, which has awesome roots. 4y
KVanRead @tenar Yes, such important info to share - I‘m glad she included it. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m so glad you all joined me for this read & while a saddening read at times, I still think knowing is better. It‘s bad, but you can‘t change things if you don‘t know the truth, and in today‘s world it‘s nice just to know we aren‘t imagining it all or overreacting. Information is a great balm to gaslighting. If anyone is interested, her other book just as sharp and concise. I would highly recommend it. @KVanRead @tenar @vlwelser @GingerAntics 4y
vlwelser We're reading White Rage for the nonfiction selection in my IRL book club. I picked it months ago before we started this one. I haven't started it yet. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser It is also really good! I don‘t know how she packs so much into fairly short books, but she does. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I am so sad I never got to this in September. It‘s been a hard reading month. But maybe I‘ll read it this week! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage Sorry it‘s been a hard month, I think we are all having those off and on this year. Maybe you‘ll get to it later, don‘t stress about it....plus you‘ve read Know My Name already, so no rush. (edited) 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Oh I know. No pressure. Actually I‘ve been busy with a lot of things that make me feel good. And they got in the way of reading. But I‘m pretty grateful for the diversions. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage That‘s great than, we need that too! 4y
21 likes20 comments
review
tenar
post image
Pickpick

Short and loaded with information on racially-targeted voter suppression in America, beginning with a brief history, then focusing on modern examples. Clear, concise, thoroughly footnoted, engaging & infuriating, it had me reading references and recommitting to voting rights work.

After this book you‘ll think twice when you hear things like, “young people don‘t care enough to vote” or, “black voters just weren‘t enthused by the candidate.”

Riveted_Reader_Melissa It was so informative about so much! 4y
tenar @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes, and packed into such a little book! Pretty incredible. 4y
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
Pickpick

This book was so concise and informative, I think everyone in America should read this, especially those concerned about the current state of politics in this country. Key takeaways: we need the VRA replaced, we need policies to combat disenfranchisement, & we need boots on the ground to make that happen from every level in government to helping our neighbors get the documents they need & get to the polls in areas that are curtailing access.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa A #MustRead that I can‘t wait to discuss with my #SheSaid group this weekend! 4y
41 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

🤯

And hey, if the gerrymandered districts, and closing polling places, and giving them no functioning voting machines doesn‘t work...just make it impossible to register new voters, and a felony to assist disabled or non-English speakers at the polls.
#SheSaid

KVanRead Yup, this made my blood boil. 4y
BookmarkTavern 🤬🤬🤬 4y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
KVanRead And we the VRA was no longer needed, gah!! 😣 4y
27 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

That‘s what happens when you purposefully close voting places in predominant minority districts.

#SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image
KVanRead I highlighted this too - was really struck by the idea that gerrymandering and voter suppression are not merely products of our political polarization they are also causing it. The more this happens the more polarized both Congress and the country become. And the more polarized things get the more this happens. 4y
23 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Any state that has a change in leadership after this census and election, needs to work on non-partisan commissions to fix the districting & gerrymandering issues.

#SheSaid

quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

Extreme gerrymandering at work.

#SheSaid

Suet624 infuriating. 4y
21 likes1 comment
quote
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

🤯🤬 Yes, it‘s as bad as we think it is!

#SheSaid

Suet624 Well this sucks. 4y
vlwelser Same. 😤💥 4y
22 likes2 comments
blurb
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
post image

I don‘t know about you guys, but this chapter was very infuriating to me. I‘m glad we are reading before the election, because I just couldn‘t handle it afterwards I‘m afraid. I took lots of screenshots of passages to share, but held off until after our discussion, I didn‘t want to post spoilers until everyone had read it, but I‘ll post sone of those this afternoon too.

#SheSaid

Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Just FYI...Litsy is a bit glitchy today, some posts aren‘t showing up, and then you repost and it shows up twice....so just be patient with everyone and Litsy today.
#SheSaid
 @JHgotham @vlwelser @KVanRead @SamAnne @GingerAntics @tenar @BarbaraTheBibliophage
(edited) 4y
tenar I don‘t have a lot of specific thoughts on this chapter, just that it was so informative, as usual. I also snapshotted several passages. At this point I feel pretty down in the dumps about the state of our democracy. Or lack of one, based on the studies cited. I was glad about how the chapter ended, as I‘m ready to move to the mindset of fighting back.

If I recover (and survive the election) I‘m interested in Ratfucked, the book she most cited!
4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar Yes, that one has been sitting on my to-read list for awhile now. Probably another group read I should plan in the nearish future. I‘m thinking it probably won‘t be until after the election though....no matter how it goes, I have a feeling Election Day until Inauguration Day is going to be stressful (no matter who wins), and after that it might stay stressful...so I‘m thinking lots of light fantasy in say Nov/Dec/Jan 😂😢 4y
See All 38 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar And I agree, I‘m glad we read it this month, when it can make us a bit more motivated (hopefully) for change. Because yes, it depressing at times, but at least we know we aren‘t crazy, this stuff is really happening. 4y
vlwelser I feel like I learned a lot in this chapter. As always. But she really spells it out and makes the whole thing ridiculous. I liked her descriptions of the redrawn districts. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser Right! It‘s so ridiculous, without all the facts laid out you‘d think it had to be exaggerated. But yes, I learned a lot too, and if we get any chance after elections and this census, nonpartisan commissions to draw up districts has to be a huge goal. 4y
GingerAntics This chapter was terrifying to me. 4y
KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar @vlwelser @GingerAntics Somehow Litsy glitched and the tag didn‘t actually show up for me so just came across this post now. Crazy day anyway so didn‘t really have time to comment until now anyway. Agree with all your comments here. My two biggest takeaways from this chapter were 1)How much this has contributed and continues to contribute to how polarized our politics are by clustering likeminded voters 4y
KVanRead ... through gerrymandering and removing any re-election incentive for politicians to moderate or broaden positions. It‘s such a vicious circle. And 2)The asymmetry between popular vote and who actually wins a seat, thanks to gerrymandered districts, makes national polling about who‘ll win basically pointless. I wonder if that was part of the surprise last time around. I finished the book last night and did find some rays of hope in... 4y
KVanRead ...the remaining chapters, although it‘s kind of like playing whack-a-mole. 😌 Look forward to our remaining discussions! 4y
tenar @KVanRead With regards to that vicious circle, interestingly, the dots connected between gerrymandering and polarization and political extremism actually made me feel a bit uplifted. The way this book has laid out a specific, understandable sequence of events that got us here made me feel like this current horrid divisiveness is caused by👇 4y
tenar (among other things, like social media, etc.) a predictable greed for power within a changeable system. That feels fixable, as opposed to chalking it up to, like, an unknowable fatal flaw in American culture. It also seems more fixable than changing the two-party system, which I often think is a driving force. 4y
tenar Surprise, demystifying how problems come about is empowering, lol! I feel this has made the solutions relatively clear, but is it possible to enact them as voters within the system? I‘m looking forward to what she says. 4y
GingerAntics @KVanRead I hadn‘t thought of it that way as far as the National polling. That is so true. I don‘t know why this isn‘t common knowledge after the last election. Maybe people will start asking questions if Biden magically loses in November. 4y
KVanRead @tenar I hadn‘t thought of that and it‘s an excellent and encouraging point that it‘s not a fundamental flaw in the American people but in the current rules of the game. Changing that is going to take flipping state governments but I‘m hopeful that maybe things have gotten so extreme as to be no longer tenable - and change will come. 4y
KVanRead @GingerAntics Hope it doesn‘t come to that but it‘s definitely a plausible scenario.🥺 4y
GingerAntics @KVanRead you and me both! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sorry, I wasn‘t on Litsy most of yesterday....so catching up on all your great posts today! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead I hadn‘t thought of polling in that way, but I did think about the electoral college, because the districts that effect key votes there were definitely played for every last benefit in 2016. Oh, and sorry about the tag, Litsy was pretty glitchy on Sunday, I‘m glad you found it. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics I agree it was terrifying in some ways, but I also agree with @tenar seeing the how‘s and whys, gives us fixable things...and although it‘s terrifying to see what a small motivated group can accomplish in such a short time, it‘s good to know there is a voiceless majority out there that isn‘t on an extreme edge. 4y
GingerAntics @tenar @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead this did explain so much of why so many people in Texas and the DFW area were so against conservatism, and yet so many conservatives were in power even in blue areas of the state. Unfortunately, I‘m not convinced that voters can flip those states without outside help. The VRA needs to be put back into place, or we need concrete federal regulations (centralised policies instead of state by state). 4y
KVanRead @GingerAntics 💯agree but don‘t see a clear path to getting them given the situation with the Supreme Court 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead True, but the census gives power to districts, and house seats. And the Senate, if won, could pass the new VRA, state seats to make a law about nonpartisan committees to draw districts. And locally run for election boards, just like school boards, they are so important, where are polling places located, what are their hours, volunteer at those too. And like @tenar who was working on regaining rights for disenfranchised voters, see... (edited) 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...where your state is at with those issues. Every little thing we chip away at...will make it more equitable no matter who is “in power” at the moment. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That reminds me @tenar ...I saw the judgement was they could vote if all their fines were paid off. I know that‘s a huge barrier to keep people trapped in debt and can keep them in extra fees indefinitely, have you heard anything new in that front? 4y
KVanRead You are so right - many ways it can be done and mustn‘t give up the fight! (edited) 4y
tenar ( @KVanRead @GingerAntics ) Yep, Melissa, you‘re correct about the ruling and its unfortunate effects. The plaintiffs are deciding whether or not to appeal to the Supreme Court. The average amount owed is reportedly around $1.5k. In addition to the burden of the costs themselves, other vote depressing factors are that the state has no system to tell you if you owe any money - it can take a lawyer to figure it out - 4y
tenar and that the voter registration form requires you to swear that you are eligible.... and being incorrect is a felony. But I think it‘s two steps forward, just one step back. It may not have as large of an expected impact on this election, but it will make a difference over time. There are fantastic organizations helping returning citizens to identify and pay off costs like the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition https://floridarrc.com/ 4y
tenar Trump just this week called their work criminal, so I believe it must be working. 😉 And Florida had/has a Republican-controlled legislature and governor, but the people passed the amendment by adding it directly to the ballot via petitioning. Many other states have this avenue of constitutional change available to the public, as well. I so agree, we can chip away! 4y
GingerAntics @tenar any time Trump calls something criminal, you know they‘re going something right! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar I was just thinking, they need a group to organize a large go fund me type of organization, to track down this info and pay them off. Kind of like the anonymous angels you hear about at Christmas time paying off layaway items. My nephew went to jail for a few months, and then got into a drug court treatment program that (if he stays with the program, and so far so good) will clear his record of the charges. He is 21, and owes ⤵️ 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️over $3,000 in court fines/fees and ankle monitoring. I‘m guessing serving time would increase that because of jail fees, etc 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics Exactly! That‘s when you know it‘s working! 4y
GingerAntics @tenar @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I still don‘t get how they expect people, especially people who came from poverty to begin with, to be able to come up with these large sums of money. It‘s ridiculous, especially considering getting a job is hard once you‘re a convict. Anything to keep poor people, especially poor black people, down. It‘s disgusting. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics You have to read The New Jim Crow... it‘s excellent. But she talks about how they prey on the poor, who have to work and care for family (kids/elderly) so are willing to plead guilty to harsh charges to get to go home sooner, and how that saddles them with debt, not to mention a record that prevents them from getting better jobs/housing/ or voting....and then lobs on late fees. Some of them end up in jail then for failure to pay.⤵️ (edited) 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ so even innocent people, who plead guilty to get out of lock up, because they can‘t afford a lawyer to begin with and can‘t afford to be in jail for months until a public defender gets to them, end up surviving time for not paying fees. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa She also discusses how the arrests are focused on minority communities, because college kids smoke pot at the same rate as inner city youth, but one is policed way more harshly...so it has a huge racial component too. 4y
GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I knew that about the pot. That really just gets me. I still think the only reason these conservatives want to keep pot illegal is because they wouldn‘t be able to lock up nearly as many minority people. They don‘t care about anything else. They know you can‘t be addicted. They knew it‘s less dangerous than alcohol. They just like having that power over people they view as less than. 4y
26 likes38 comments
quote
GingerAntics
post image

I al@so glad I don‘t live in the DFW area anymore.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image
quote
GingerAntics
post image
quote
GingerAntics
post image

Two words: Breonna Taylor
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image

This is the perfect description of the situation.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image

But it doesn‘t, because the Republicans have literally (and I mean what the dictionary says literally means) rigged the system.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

Traci1 Its so disheartening. 😞 4y
GingerAntics @Traci1 it‘s terrifying, isn‘t it? We can‘t even use the democratic process to vote them out because of the way they have rigged the system. Any move to make things more Democratic, they cry unfair. Saying absentee ballots would never allow republicans to win another election was letting the nation into a world of information the republicans didn‘t want us having. 4y
9 likes2 comments
quote
GingerAntics
post image

There is no other conclusion than that this was intentional. Period.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image

This is equal parts disturbing and disgusting.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image

This makes no sense. This is NOT democracy. This is so rigged, I‘m seriously wondering if it‘s even actually possible, in reality, to vote these 🤬wipes out of office? They‘ve made themselves little fiefdoms and little kings, right here in America. It‘s disgraceful. I. Am. TERRIFIED!!!
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

Traci1 It really makes you feel powerless. I think now more than ever we know we need to get out and vote, but it feels more pointless than ever too because we know that they'll just cheat their way into power no matter what we do. 4y
9 likes2 comments
quote
GingerAntics
post image

This is terrifying. I don‘t think I want to know what this scale would say about America in 2020; although, it‘s probably important to actually know.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image

Oh yeah, the republicans are the “good guys” in Washington. 🙄 Who is dumb enough to fall for the rhetoric of these idiots?
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid

quote
GingerAntics
post image
quote
GingerAntics
post image

This is against the spirit of the America voting system if not against the law. That information has NOTHING to do with election integrity and everything to do with figuring out who should be prevented from voting. Republicans will do anything to win elections, including forcing a new SCOTUS judge through before the election so if it ends up back in the courts, they‘re guaranteed another term of Trump.
#CarolAnderson #OnePersonNoVote #SheSaid