To those who worry that adding more SC seats will become a never-ending game of one-upsmanship

[intrepidity]

Consider this: if some vital rebalancing occurs during a forthcoming Dem administration and, hopefully, Congress, we may never again have to worry about such a far right-wing breed of Rs gaining power.

Think about it: if new states are minted (eg, DC), more SC justices added, the EC abolished (or repaired) and laws enacted that seek to undo the effects of decades of gerrymandering, the balance of power would be restored to one that much more faithfully reflects the population of the country as a whole--because we *know* with certainty that the current Republican party is an artificial construct, that would never have come to exist (much less survive or thrive!) in an organic manner (ie, as a representative body). It's like a genetically engineered organism that cannot exist in the wild, but must rely upon external forces to ensure its survival (unfair advantages). Remove that help and the organism dies (this is exactly the strategy that scientists use to make sure their laboratory organisms don't survive an escape from the lab).

Without unfair advantages (the EC, gerrymandered districts, Citizen's United, Fairness Doctrine, etc) the R party would be *forced* to move back towards the center, much, much more. Because they would have to fight on a level playing field for members.

So, if we get the chance to precipitate this, we should jump at it enthusiastically, knowing that, if done correctly, there won't *be* an opposition party that looks and acts like the current R party. That escaped artificially generated organism will cease to exist. We needn't worry about when it gets power again, what it will do--because it won't exist!

Does that make sense?

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Not an issue if everyone votes, GOP can never have WH again or Senate or House if we do

[intrepidity]

3. OK, you said in one line what I took several paragraphs to say

Yes, the bottom line is that if our government accurately reflected the population (as would be the case if everybody voted), we would not have to worry

So removing the obstacles (such as examples I pointed out) are critical.

It's a platitude to say "Just vote" as if there aren't a multitude of complexities involved.

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. WAIT everyone LOOK AT WHAT THIS person JUST SAID...

I have never heard it that way, it JUMPS off the page at me...

It's a platitude to say "Just vote" as if there aren't a multitude of complexities involved.

Lets tweet that and instagram that over and over, what a BRILLIANT way to put it...

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I'm not worried about what if

Thank you.

[Demsrule86]

4. I agree with everything except...no path to changing the EC...and the only way to prevent

gerrymandering is to win local government...not easy in red states.

[intrepidity]

9. I use those as illustrations of leveling the playing field

There are nuances, of course.

I don't know the specifics of all the things that can and should be done, but I know it's possible.

[Laelth]

11. Agreed. The EC is foundational to the republic.

I see no way to get low population states to agree to amend the Constitution and eliminate the EC. A Constitutional amendment would be required to do it.

But the SCOTUS? By all means, expand it. It’s overburdened and can’t hear enough cases in its present configuration. I’d be cool with 15, 17, 19, or 21 Supreme Court justices. Think about it. Even if the Republicans took back the Presidency for a term or two, having a much larger number of justices will make it much more difficult (for either party) to actually shift the balance of power on the Court. A larger number will provide for much greater judicial stability.

-Laelth

[moonscape]

13. And expanding the federal bench, which John Dean I think it was

suggested. That has been needed and would rebalance after McConnell's stacking.

[JustAnotherGen]

12. Agree

We are stuck with this remnant of slavery forever.

[BigmanPigman]

5. Hear, hear!!!!!

[Moostache]

6. I saw that movie...it NEVER works out well for the ones fighting the genetic creature!

Species
Virus
Life
Aliens

Screw it...I'll go out like Vasquez!!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Expanding the seats on SCOTUS will dilute the power and influence of any single justice

That’s a good thing IMO.

It can only be done when one party controls the WH and both houses of Congress, which hasn’t been all that often in recent years.

[gristy]

10. You are correct

Right now our opponent has the ref's bribed, they're spotted 15 points at the start of the game, two points are scored every 2 minutes by the team that makes the most baskets in those 2 minutes (and if the 2 teams make the some # of baskets, our opponent gets 1 point and we get no points), they're allowed two more players on the court than we are, and they get to entice their recruits with money and lies with no repercussions.

Just need to get out and vote? Winning the election in November is necessary but not sufficient to save our country and our democracy. All these problems need to be rectified to be able to do that.

[gulliver]

15. Win the election first, though.

Then talk about other things.

[gulliver]

14. No gimmicks are going to work. Raw voting out of Republicans is the only hope.

We don't need any "brilliant" tactical or strategic ideas about what tricks me might be able to pull. We just need to vote at full strength like our country and world depend on it, because it does.

[hardluck]

16. We can make every citizen a SC Justice

Have an American Idol type show for each case then we all vote for the winner. It will be great ratings.