General Discussion

Abbott wants to cheat the voters of Texas out of their representation with his blatantly corrupt gerrymandering, for which he needs an even more unevenly drawn district map of Texas than exists now.

This reminds me of a situation between France and Switzerland some 45 years ago. France, totally incapable of managing their budget, kept dreaming up more and more taxes upon their people. Even then, our infant office in Paris was paying a 55% (!!!) payroll tax for our employees there, and they were getting hit for nearly another 50% out of what was left over, as well as paying a 20% VAT on everything they bought. But even that wasn't enough.

Many French citizens who could, hid their money in Switzerland, right across the border. That wasn't illegal, though not declaring it was. But the French weren't content with what pressure they could bring to bear on the Swiss through diplomatic channels, nor on their own citizens, who had been giving French governments the finger since 1789. So, they illegally sent their own agents into Switzerland to spy on French citizens. The Swiss noticed right away (it's like the move was unexpected), and arrested some of the French government people for operating illegally on Swiss Territory. The French went predictably ballistic, but the Swiss said, this is our country, and we have our laws, and while French citizens are welcome here, they will respect our laws, or get arrested and tossed out. Now Switzerland is tiny compared to France, and outside of watches, cheese, chocolate, and outdoor sports, they don't have much outside of their banking industry. But they DO have their fiercely guarded independence (neutral and no interest in joining the EU, which surrounds them on all sides), and they do not appreciate ham-fisted neighbors telling them what to do.

Pritzker may have some Swiss blood in him, but in any case, he is taking the same stance. Illinois is THEIR state, with laws enacted by ITS people, which will be enforced by Illinois law enforcement. Pritzker may not be able to force Texas to conduct its elections fairly, but he sure as hell is under no legal obligation to let Abbott enforce Texas laws in Illinois that have no standing in Illinois.

I don't have to presume that it would do any good to remind Abbott that the resistance to his gerrymandering of Texas is due to the fact that Texans don't want it.