North Carolina

littlemissmartypants

(25,497 posts) Mon Oct 15, 2018, 06:06 PM Oct 2018

In about 20 years, half the population will live in eight states

In case you missed it. Something to think about.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/07/12/in-about-20-years-half-the-population-will-live-in-eight-states/

In about 20 years, half the population will live in eight states

Eight states will have just under half of the total population of the country, 49.5 percent, according to the Weldon Cooper Center’s estimate. The next eight most populous states will account for an additional fifth of the population, up to 69.2 percent — meaning that the 16 most populous states will be home to about 70 percent of Americans.

Ornstein’s (and Waldman’s) point is clear: 30 percent of the population of the country will control 68 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate. Or, more starkly, half the population of the country will control 84 percent of those seats.

So the partisan ramifications of the uneven distribution of the country’s population aren’t clear. But the possible anti-democratic effects of the lopsided Senate are. The gray states on the map below — states that make up more than two-thirds of the land area of the United States — will similarly control enough of the Senate to overcome any filibuster.

♡lmsp

8 replies

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In about 20 years, half the population will live in eight states (Original Post) littlemissmartypants Oct 2018 OP

and that.... getagrip_already Oct 2018 #1

No zipplewrath Oct 2018 #3

uhmm, actually it is..... getagrip_already Oct 2018 #5

Protected yes zipplewrath Oct 2018 #6

and thus, the majority can frustrate the minority... getagrip_already Oct 2018 #7

Minority rule meadowlark5 Oct 2018 #2

Bingo zipplewrath Oct 2018 #4

in 40 years... make that fewer states, maybe 6 lapfog_1 Oct 2018 #8

getagrip_already

(17,440 posts)

1. and that....

Reply to littlemissmartypants (Original post)

Mon Oct 15, 2018, 06:16 PM

Oct 2018

Is actually what the founders intended. They were wary of the states with the most people running rough over the states with the fewest.

It isn't a terrible system, though it is frustrating.

Keep in mind that all legislation has to start in the house. Sure, the senate can stall and make demands, but unless the house lets the senate pull a trick, it can't create legislation. Not even the wh can. It's all house, all the time.

zipplewrath

(16,692 posts)

3. No

Reply to getagrip_already (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 15, 2018, 07:50 PM

Oct 2018

Yes, they meant for the minority to be protected from the "tyranny of the majority", but it was never realized that roughly 1/3 of the country could control the federal government. Remember, there were 13 colonies. There was no intent that 4 or 5 of the smallest states could control the federal government. When they wrote the constitution, the House was based upon population. Later it was changed to limit the total number of Congressmen in the House. So now we have Alaska guaranteed a congress critter, regardless of the fact that they have fewer citizens than a single borough of New York. This is NOT what the founders intended. The system is vastly broken and although needs to be fixed, I don't see how under the existing constitution. The last time we got in a position like this we had a horrible civil war. The only other option I see is a Constitutional Convention, which is almost as equally frightening.

getagrip_already

(17,440 posts)

5. uhmm, actually it is.....

Reply to zipplewrath (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 15, 2018, 08:00 PM

Oct 2018

They very explicitly intended the minority to be protected from the majority. Hence 2 houses for congress, an executive branch, and an independent judiciary.

It was all predicated on a balance of power. Co-equal branches of gov't.

The skeptics gave it 50 years. It lasted about 250. But now, it is threatened not because of an imbalance in population, but because two branches conspired to corrupt the third.

That is what will destroy this grand experiment. Greed and corruption. The very thing the distribution of power was intended to prevent, but which consolidation will enshrine.

It's all there in history from the federalist papers on down.

(note, federalists of modern day would make the original crowd go to war).

go read. go, now go, before those who remember die off. go. really. read.

zipplewrath

(16,692 posts)

6. Protected yes

Reply to getagrip_already (Reply #5)

Mon Oct 15, 2018, 08:52 PM

Oct 2018

It was not the intent that a small minority could actually have a majority control. It was intended that the majority would have to large enough to actually accomplish control. But the scale is way off the charts at this point.