American Politics Thread VI: Can't We All Just Get Along?

[Galloism]

Tbf I love the smell of gas stations, he isn't alone lol

I prefer Diesel gas smell to regular gas.

I dislike both, but racing fuel smells nice.

[Gravlen]

The introductory paragraph worries me and makes me think the answer might be yes.

Another leading CBP figure remarked that border agents were not required to adhere to the same constitutional restraints on the use of force as other law enforcers. “We are not cops,” he said.

I was making a joke, and you had to get all serious on me.

It's Sunday. Nobody makes jokes on Sundays >.>

[Picairn]

Fuck, I missed the thread opening ceremony.

It stopped being possible when one side started being entirely unreasonable.

We could reform immigration if we wanted to. Make it easier for legitimate immigration to happen, and give a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without "amnesty" (which has been made into a boogeyman).

We could make voting a guaranteed right without increasing voter fraud if we wanted to. Make government-issued IDs mandatory at polls, but free to obtain and easier to access.

Tbh we should give amnesty to law-abiding immigrants who have paid taxes and lived here for a long time, they have passed the trial for citizenship more than a natural born American.

[Shrillland]

Fuck, I missed the thread opening ceremony.

It stopped being possible when one side started being entirely unreasonable.

We could reform immigration if we wanted to. Make it easier for legitimate immigration to happen, and give a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without "amnesty" (which has been made into a boogeyman).

We could make voting a guaranteed right without increasing voter fraud if we wanted to. Make government-issued IDs mandatory at polls, but free to obtain and easier to access.

Tbh we should give amnesty to law-abiding immigrants who have paid taxes and lived here for a long time, they have passed the trial for citizenship more than a natural born American.

I had a nice OP all set up, but a bout of sciatica doesn't pay attention to schedules.

Anyhow, here's Plebiscite Plaza 2021:

Prop 119 would create a new educational service for school kids. The LEAP(Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress) Programme would provide out-of-school services for tutoring in major subject, language learning assistance, vocational training, mentoring, and several kinds of support and therapy for children with disabilities or special needs. It would not, however, provide in-school instruction or programmes to make up lost school credits, nor would it provide anything that is paid for by private school tuitions. To oversee the programme, the Colorado Learning Authority would be established. It would have nine members appointed by the Governor with no more than five from any party. Their terms would last three years, and members would be required to either have experience working with children, be a parent of an eligible child, or experience working with nonprofits. There would also be four non-voting advisory teenage members chosen by the Board President and the Executive Director of the state Indian Affairs Commission chosen from tribal, charter, or other forms of private schooling. Besides overseeing LEAP, they would provide financial aid to children up to 200% of the poverty line to those who wanted private education, essentially creating a voucher programme. This would be funded two ways, first by requiring the state to transfer the same amount of money to LEAP that public schools get from mineral rights leases and taxes and making it TABOR exempt, and by an increase in the marijuana sales tax by 5% over a three-year period, bringing up to 20% by 2024. This would also be TABOR exempt.

Prop 120 would lower residential property taxes from 7.15% to 6.5% and non-residential property taxes from 29% to 26.4%. It would also allow the state to keep up to $25 million past the TABOR cap to provide reimbursements to counties and cities that would otherwise lose property tax money from homestead exemptions.

Amendment 78 would amend the constitution to transfer the authority for appropriating custodial funds(state revenue that doesn't come from taxes) from the State Treasurer to the State Legislature. It would also create the Custodial Fund Transparency Account within the state Treasury Department. All custodial money would go into that account, and public hearings would be held before any money gets appropriated to any purpose. This would be considered a TABOR-exempt measure in regards to spending, and all funding would be voter-approved.

On October 9, voters will decide on Amendment 1. Amendments 1 and 2 are related to three tax bills passed by the state legislature that are contingent on amendments being made. This would create a new government commission to replace two older commissions, which were conditionally dissolved(the condition being this amendment passes). The State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission would consist of eight members and would replace the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers and the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board. The new commission's goal would be to streamline e-filing and tax remittances. It would be funded by sales and use taxes, and all employees from the two commissions it's replacing would go to the new board in a year. Any laws regarding this new commission would require a 2/3 vote of the legislature.

Amendment 2 would reduce state income taxes for the top income bracket of over $50,000 starting in 2022. Taxes would go down for them from 6% to 4.75%.

Amendment 3 would allow levee districts founded between January 1, 2006 and this Election Day to raise taxes by five mills, or $5 per $1,000 of assessed property values. It would also allow the Orleans Levee District to raise taxes by 2.5 mills. Any future levee districts would need voter approval to raise similar taxes.

Amendment 4 would double the limit on how much money the state could redirect to purposes besides what was originally allocated in the budget. The limit would go up from 5 to 10%.

Question 1 has a...rather interesting backstory. Back in 2016, Massachusetts passed a law requiring 9.45 million megawatts of its power to be generated by hydro or a hydro/renewable mix. This means having to buy power from hydro dams up in Quebec powered by the provincial energy company, Hydro-Quebec. To bring it down to Massachusetts requires high-capacity transmission lines....right across the Upper Kennebec Region of Maine, which in turn means cutting down a lot of trees. This became known as the NECEC(New England Clean Energy Connect)Corridor. After four years of pulling teeth, Maine was able to secure 500 Megawatt Hours worth of power each year from the lines and compensation from Hydro-Quebec, but many don't think this is worth the environmental impacts that the corridor will cause. So, this November, Maine will be voting on Question 1, which would explicitly ban the construction of high-capacity lines in the Upper Kennebec region and require a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to approve any future lines.

Question 2's just a bond issue. Moving on.

Question 3 would amend the constitution to create a "natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being , as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food."

New Jersey will be voting on an amendment that would allow all organisations that hold raffles to keep any proceeds to support themselves. Currently, only veterans and senior citizens organisations are allowed to do so.

Another amendment being considered would allow people to bet on postseason college sports held in New Jersey and on New Jersey-based teams.

Proposal 1 would lead to redistricting reform. The amendment would allow the state 10-member redistricting commission(made up of 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 2 non-partisans) to approve a new legislative map by majority vote if a single party holds both legislative houses. Currently, it requires a two-thirds majority when a party holds both. Second, the amendment would require prisoners to be counted in the census according to their last known residence rather than the prison they're in. Third, it would require the state to count non-citizens when it comes to redistricting. Fourth, State Senate district would no longer be bound to the "block-on'-border" requirement, meaning that (A), city blocks could now be divided into different districts, and (B), the commission is no longer required to take adjacent towns or city blocks on the borders of districts in mind when drawing maps. Currently, they have to ensure that towns or blocks are placed in such a way as to make neighbouring districts equal in population and the districts can't have a greater population difference between them than the population of that border town or block. Fifth, it would permanently cap the State Senate at 63 seats, and sixth, it moves up the deadline for redistricting to November 1, 2021(and so on) from January 1, 2022(and so on).

Proposal 2 would create a constitutional right to clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment.

Proposal 3 would allow the legislature to pass a law to allow same-day voter registration, eliminating the current deadline of 10 days before an election.

Proposal 4 would allow the legislature to pass a law allowing no-excuse absentee voting.

Proposal 5 would increase the jurisdiction of the NYC Civil Court. It would now be able to preside over lawsuits up to $50,000, double the current jurisdictional limit of $25,000.

Questions 1 and 2 both regard emergency declarations. Question 1 would limit emergency declarations issued by the governor to no more than 21 days unless the legislature votes for an extension. The amendment would also allow the legislature to pass laws regarding how these declarations can be managed. Question 2 would allow the legislature to unilaterally extend or terminate a governor's emergency declaration by a simple majority vote. This resolution could not be vetoed by the governor. BOTH APPROVED

Question 3, to be voted on on May 18 like the others, would amend the constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of rights based on race or ethnicity. APPROVED

Question 4 would allow municipal fire departments and EMS services to apply for state loans from the State Fire Commission. Currently, only volunteer fire departments and ambulance services can apply for these loans. APPROVED

Prop 1 would declare professional rodeo organisations to be professional sports teams. This would also allow their charitable foundations to set up charitable raffles at rodeo events.

Prop 2 would allow counties to issue bonds to pay for transportation and infrastructure programmes in blighted areas. Currently, only cities and towns can do so. They would be forbidden from building toll roads with these bonds, and they couldn't allocate more than 65% of their annual property tax revenue increases to paying the bonds back.

Prop 3 would prohibit the state or any local authorities from prohibiting or placing limits on any form of religious services.

Prop 4 would change the eligibility requirements for judges and higher justices. First, they would have to be residents of Texas and US citizens(currently, they only have to be citizens of Texas and the US). Second, the experience requirement for district court judges would be doubled to 8 years from the current 4. Third, the experience requirement of being either a lawyer, judge, or both for the State Supreme Court would remain at 10 years, but a new provision would be added for both types of judge and those for state appeals courts. Namely, if a lawyer or judge's law licence was suspended or revoked at any time during the 8- or 10-year period, they would be disqualified from higher benches. This will take effect for any judge that's appointed for a term on the court starting in 2025.

Prop 5 would authorise the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to subject candidates for the judiciary to the same investigative and disciplinary powers that judicial officeholders are currently subject to.

Prop 6 would ensure that residents of nursing or assisted living homes have the right to assign an essential caregiver. This caregiver can't be barred from in-person visitations.

Prop 7 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a disabled person if the spouse is 55 or older. Currently, such exemptions are only available to surviving spouses of people if they're 65 or older. It would also create a retroactive exemption for anyone who would qualify as far back as tax year 2020 and give such people full refunds for 2020 and 2021.

Prop 8 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to a surviving military spouse if they died in the line of duty. Currently, they can only get the exemption if the person was killed in action.

[The Black Forrest]

Fuck, I missed the thread opening ceremony.

It stopped being possible when one side started being entirely unreasonable.

We could reform immigration if we wanted to. Make it easier for legitimate immigration to happen, and give a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without "amnesty" (which has been made into a boogeyman).

We could make voting a guaranteed right without increasing voter fraud if we wanted to. Make government-issued IDs mandatory at polls, but free to obtain and easier to access.

Tbh we should give amnesty to law-abiding immigrants who have paid taxes and lived here for a long time, they have passed the trial for citizenship more than a natural born American.

Now why would you want to deprive ICE from getting low hanging fruit? Bad Hombres are dangerous after all.

I remember reading one trumpist who was married to what she thought was an immigrant. He started a business was a leader of the community, etc., etc. She was shocked when ICE grabbed him up. Don’t know what happened to him. There was talk of a lawyer. He probably was deported.

That is the republican politicians. It doesn’t matter if you contribute to the community; create jobs or pay taxes. Your crime is unforgivable.

[The United Confederacy of Texas]

I realized that I didn't want anything to do with fanbases of either side a while back. I originally didn't like one side, until I realized the other side is equally as stupid.

This is why I've voted for Godzilla in the past several elections. We wouldn't be the shithole we are now if he were President.

That’s an excellent idea. Who would his VP be?

Kong to secure the monke vote and also so we can get the entertainment of the President and Vice President beating each other up every weekend

[Rusozak]

In response to the poll, I would say it depends on the opponent. Everyday Republicans, people that haven't surrendered their ability to reason over to Trump, the rational sort, they can still be reasoned and collaborated with. But the Trump cultists, the people that give their minds and souls fully to their new god, they are a lost cause. They can't be worked with, only contained. The moment they betrayed democracy to try and make Trump ruler against the will of the people is the moment they ceased to be political opponents and became enemies of the nation and the people.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Tbf I love the smell of gas stations, he isn't alone lol

I prefer Diesel gas smell to regular gas.

I like how gasoline smells too. I thought I was the odd one out but I guess not.

[Greater Cesnica]

In response to the poll, I would say it depends on the opponent. Everyday Republicans, people that haven't surrendered their ability to reason over to Trump, the rational sort, they can still be reasoned and collaborated with. But the Trump cultists, the people that give their minds and souls fully to their new god, they are a lost cause. They can't be worked with, only contained. The moment they betrayed democracy to try and make Trump ruler against the will of the people is the moment they ceased to be political opponents and became enemies of the nation and the people.

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

[The Jamesian Republic]

In response to the poll, I would say it depends on the opponent. Everyday Republicans, people that haven't surrendered their ability to reason over to Trump, the rational sort, they can still be reasoned and collaborated with. But the Trump cultists, the people that give their minds and souls fully to their new god, they are a lost cause. They can't be worked with, only contained. The moment they betrayed democracy to try and make Trump ruler against the will of the people is the moment they ceased to be political opponents and became enemies of the nation and the people.

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

What about this man do these people like?

[Kowani]

Eric Adams' supporters are now saying that the co-campaigning between Andrew Yang and Kathryn Garcia in the New York maryoral race is "voter suppression" and an attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and "steal an election"

[Kowani]

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

What about this man do these people like?

how much time do you have

[Senkaku]

Eric Adams' supporters are now saying that the co-campaigning between Andrew Yang and Kathryn Garcia in the New York maryoral race is "voter suppression" and an attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and "steal an election"

Voter suppression is when candidates behave strategically in ranked choice voting and the more strategically they behave the more voter suppression it is

[San Lumen]

Eric Adams' supporters are now saying that the co-campaigning between Andrew Yang and Kathryn Garcia in the New York maryoral race is "voter suppression" and an attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and "steal an election"

Thats one of the dumbest things ive ever heard and shows a total lack of understanding of how ranked choice works.

[The Jamesian Republic]

What about this man do these people like?

how much time do you have

Plenty, please enlighten me. I saw your effort posts so I think I will be very enlightened.

[Atheris]

I prefer Diesel gas smell to regular gas.

I like how gasoline smells too. I thought I was the odd one out but I guess not.

ah, beings of culture

[San Lumen]

Thats one of the dumbest things ive ever heard and shows a total lack of understanding of how ranked choice works.

"Total lack of understanding" in some voters, is likely to endure for many cycles. There's still time to call it "instant runoff" instead of "ranked choice" which absolutely IS going to be applied to less fair systems.

Suppose I tell the voters "Rank all the candidates from your favorite to your least favorite". And they do.
Then I count all the 1 votes and bin the rest. For any voters who didn't vote strategically (knowing what instant runoff is) the election will work like bad old First Past The Post, but smarter voters will have been tricked into ONLY voting for someone who wasn't their favorite, and their vote will likely be wasted.

"But that's not ranked choice voting" you will complain. Tell it to the judge. What you call it matters.

The whole point of ranked choice is no vote is wasted. Anytime a candidate is eliminated votes are reallocated to your next choice.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

What about this man do these people like?

He kills brown people.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

I like how gasoline smells too. I thought I was the odd one out but I guess not.

ah, beings of culture

Working class people of the rust belt.

[Zurkerx]

Eric Adams' supporters are now saying that the co-campaigning between Andrew Yang and Kathryn Garcia in the New York maryoral race is "voter suppression" and an attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and "steal an election"

Thats one of the dumbest things ive ever heard and shows a total lack of understanding of how ranked choice works.

Precisely. I did hear about a co-campaigning effort. I figured it involved Yang but I wasn't sure who the other person was. I thought Garcia was leading though it is close last I checked.

[Torisakia]

Fuck all this lame ass shit going on in our politics. Make Greater Cesnica prime minister of Canada and I'll run for president of the United States.

Don't knock yourself like that. You have too many brain cells to run for President. Requirements state that the number has to be less than or equal to 0.

[San Lumen]

Thats one of the dumbest things ive ever heard and shows a total lack of understanding of how ranked choice works.

Precisely. I did hear about a co-campaigning effort. I figured it involved Yang but I wasn't sure who the other person was. I thought Garcia was leading though it is close last I checked.

Im hoping Wiley or Garcia wins. Addams, Wiley and Garcia all have a a decent chance of winning.

[Torisakia]

In response to the poll, I would say it depends on the opponent. Everyday Republicans, people that haven't surrendered their ability to reason over to Trump, the rational sort, they can still be reasoned and collaborated with. But the Trump cultists, the people that give their minds and souls fully to their new god, they are a lost cause. They can't be worked with, only contained. The moment they betrayed democracy to try and make Trump ruler against the will of the people is the moment they ceased to be political opponents and became enemies of the nation and the people.

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

People seem to be confused on how politics work. Different political parties aren't supposed to work together. That's why they're separate. They're supposed to be mortal enemies. If two or more parties are going to work together, they might as well just create their own party. It's stupid.

[San Lumen]

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5 ... s-releases

Chris Jones, a physicist and ordained minister, announced his candidacy for Arkansas governor last week in a launch video that has since gone viral.

Jones, who is running as a Democrat and previously led the nonprofit Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, officially launched his campaign on Tuesday, entering a crowded field of candidates vying to replace sitting Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s (R), who is ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits.

I really hope he wins the nomination and the general but its likely Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be the state's next governor.

[Galloism]

The "Everyday Republicans" represent enemies to me just as much as Trumpists do.

People seem to be confused on how politics work. Different political parties aren't supposed to work together. That's why they're separate. They're supposed to be mortal enemies. If two or more parties are going to work together, they might as well just create their own party. It's stupid.

Not sure if sarcasm or everything wrong with the world.