# Democratic voters, what would you want accomplished in the event of a 2020 victory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 27, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068 "2019-11-27T15:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/41 "2019-12-06T16:44:34Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > I can’t strongly emphasize enough how much I agree that making DC and Puerto Rico states should be top priority. Seriously, giving them statehood is such a small drop in the bucket in terms of amelioriating the Democrats’ structural disadvantage in the Senate that it amazes me that doing this is even a controversial idea. We should really be making _all_ of the territories states (so American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, etc.) and look at breaking CA into 6 or 7 smaller states if we actually wanted to fix the Senate. Breaking California into six states doesn’t mean we get twelve democratic senators. You’d get Democrats from the state that has LA, and the state that has the Bay Area, and the rest are likely to be Republican. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/42 "2019-12-06T18:22:19Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > The problem is that the economy is running on a Keynesian sugar high fueled by unfunded tax cuts and military spending. True. This was tried — on a smaller scale and with different priorities — in the late 1960’s and led to Richard Nixon taking the U.S. off the gold standard. Trying this now, with record-low interest rates as additional sugar, and with fiat money, poses severe risks. The prices of stocks and bonds are being buoyed up by record corporate profits and millionaire incomes, beneficiaries of the tax cuts. I’m surprised more attention isn’t paid to a likely fall in stock prices when the D’s gain power. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > To be fair, the attacks against him were pretty partisan. No. Unless you’re using a strange definition of “partisan attacks.” But BK’s shrill animosity toward the Democratic Party was on display decades before the hearings. > [@](#): > > Really? AFAICT, every department in the government has seen an increase in their budget between 2016 and 2018. That’s how Trump has been keeping this economy going. He has been goosing consumption by reducing taxes without reducing spending. It’s Keynesian deficit spending. Are there good articles showing WHAT specifically the money is targeted for? The big boost in Corps of Engineers is presumably about The Wall. What about HUD? Transportation? > [@](#): > > Why is it right wing? Free state college education is a pretty progressive idea. Education at California state colleges (and the public university) were heavily subsidized in the past … _ **By California taxpayers** _. My objection isn’t to free education. It’s to “flagship colleges in proportion to electoral votes.” We give EC votes for President to Empty Land, or so it’s said. Do we also need federal assistance to that empty land, for the land’s education? 😕 And I’m not sure the Crimson Tide University has the same stature as Univ of Calif. Would the plan call for federal support to teach Creationism, a Christian view of history, and [Mises.org](http://Mises.org) economics? > [@Miller](#): > > Breaking California into six states doesn’t mean we get twelve democratic senators. You’d get Democrats from the state that has LA, and the state that has the Bay Area, and the rest are likely to be Republican. You could get 3 or even 4 states, all Democrat, if you draw the boundaries right. Of course the gerrymandering would be quite blatant. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/43 "2019-12-08T23:15:28Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > True. This was tried — on a smaller scale and with different priorities — in the late 1960’s and led to Richard Nixon taking the U.S. off the gold standard. > > Trying this now, with record-low interest rates as additional sugar, and with fiat money, poses severe risks. The prices of stocks and bonds are being buoyed up by record corporate profits and millionaire incomes, beneficiaries of the tax cuts. I’m surprised more attention isn’t paid to a likely fall in stock prices when the D’s gain power. Yeah, but it works like a charm until it doesn’t > [@](#): > > No. Unless you’re using a strange definition of “partisan attacks.” But BK’s shrill animosity toward the Democratic Party was on display decades before the hearings. He did not react this way until AFTER he was attacked and accused of rape. > [@](#): > > Are there good articles showing WHAT specifically the money is targeted for? The big boost in Corps of Engineers is presumably about The Wall. What about HUD? Transportation? You said federal spending has already been cut to the bone. Do you still believe that is true? > [@](#): > > Education at California state colleges (and the public university) were heavily subsidized in the past … _ **By California taxpayers** _. My objection isn’t to free education. It’s to “flagship colleges in proportion to electoral votes.” We give EC votes for President to Empty Land, or so it’s said. Do we also need federal assistance to that empty land, for the land’s education? 😕 No but public education systems have an overhead. Running a state university system in Wyoming will cost more per student (COLA adjusted) than a larger system like California where you start to get economies of scale. > [@](#): > > And I’m not sure the Crimson Tide University has the same stature as Univ of Calif. Would the plan call for federal support to teach Creationism, a Christian view of history, and [Mises.org](http://Mises.org) economics? Is this what the university of Alabama does now? Are you saying we should only fund public universities in blue states? > [@](#): > > You could get 3 or even 4 states, all Democrat, if you draw the boundaries right. Of course the gerrymandering would be quite blatant. 2 states. That’s all you could reasonably do with California and even then you would need an overwhelming Democratic majority. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/44 "2019-12-08T23:52:30Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > ( I would love to see someone become a billionaire by developing something like new solar panels) > Elimination of the penny. The guy who invented better solar panels is already filthy rich: [https://www.tesla.com/en\_CA/solarroof](https://www.tesla.com/en_CA/solarroof) Agreed on the penny, Canada doesn’t have them any longer and we’re a better country for it. I’d also say get rid of dollar bills and replace them with coins because these already exist - I got a pile of American loonies out of a vending machine in Vegas. And switch over to polymer money - it lasts longer, is harder to counterfeit and it just feels better in the hand. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/45 "2019-12-09T05:07:44Z")
In all the above posts, I think “ **Barack Obama** ” was the only one (maybe one other too?) to mention getting all those immigrants and refugees and children out of those gawd-awful concentration camps. This has got to be a top priority for the next administration. Especially, getting those people some immediate health care before they all die of the flu or other epidemic, and getting the children re-connected with their families. Now that’s going to take some serious effort, given how thoroughly the Trump administration has fucked up with the record-keeping (or lack thereof). We practically need to send agents knocking door-to-door throughout Mexico and Central America asking if they are missing any children? And who, among all those Central Americans whose door we knock on, would be trustful enough to talk to the Yanquis? (Let alone the immigrants already in the States whose doors we knock on.) We need to commission some well-respected international agencies to do the job. Possibly the International Red Cross, or even the Red Crescent? Or how about Doctors Without Borders? Or an agency of the United Nations? Americans can’t fix this. We’ve fucked up our credibility too much in the international community. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/46 "2019-12-09T17:40:19Z")
A serious national infrastructure improvement mega-project. I’m talking updating to a smart energy grid, alternative energy program, improved water delivery and waste treatment, reduction of plastic waste, fix/build roads, bridges, airports, etc. It’s long overdue. ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/47 "2019-12-10T08:15:21Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Breaking California into six states doesn’t mean we get twelve democratic senators. You’d get Democrats from the state that has LA, and the state that has the Bay Area, and the rest are likely to be Republican. As noted, if you draw the boundaries just right you could easily get 6 or 7 Democratic states out of California; the only one that could go the other way would be Southern CA, but Hell, Orange County is entirely represented by Democrats now so you’d basically just have to contend with San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/48 "2019-12-10T18:19:44Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > As noted, if you draw the boundaries just right you could easily get 6 or 7 Democratic states out of California; the only one that could go the other way would be Southern CA, but Hell, Orange County is entirely represented by Democrats now so you’d basically just have to contend with San Diego. Nope. Kern county, most of the northern counties and a bunch of the smaller gold rush counties are all red: > **[California locations by voter registration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_locations_by_voter_registration)** > > The following is a list of California locations by voter registration. > In October 2020, California had 22,047,448 registered voters, comprising 87.87% of its total eligible voters. Of those registered voters, 10,170,317 (46.10 percent) were registered Democrats, 5,334,323 (24.20 percent) were Republicans and, 5,283,853 were No Party Preference (24.00 percent). > The county with the highest percentage of registered Republicans was Modoc County, with registered Republicans comprising half of th... ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/49 "2019-12-19T01:08:08Z")
With a Republican senate: I don’t expect anything. They won’t approve cabinet or other appointments unless they are very conservative. I think there will be a new McConnell doctrine. No supreme court approvals during the first four years of a president’s tenure. But all of Trump’s executive orders will be reversed. With a Democratic or tied senate, I think the filibuster is dead since the Republicans have weaponized it. Then the Trump tax cuts reversed, Daca made permanent. I think a well-run public option will gradually drive private health insurance out of business and lead to the equivalent of medicare for all. I also hope for a re-adherence to the Paris protocol and maybe a national carbon tax. California will get its exemption back. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/50 "2019-12-19T07:10:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nope. Kern county, most of the northern counties and a bunch of the smaller gold rush counties are all red: > [California locations by voter registration - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_locations_by_voter_registration) Wrong. I’m not sure what your link is for: There are a lot of Red counties in California? Sure; Sierra County is bright red. It voted for Trump in 2016, 1048 votes to 601. Modoc County went for Trump 2696 to 877. Humboldt County, also in North Northifornia but home to several fine colleges (and a premier source of cannabis!), voted for Clinton 33,200 to 18,373. @ **DrDeth** — examine the three triplets of numbers I just gave. Do the obvious arithmetics. What do you see? San Diego County voted for Clinton over Trump 735,476 to 477,766. I answered this in another thread. When I did the described study, I included Johnson votes in Trump’s total, Stein votes in Clinton’s total, _and assumed 5% of blue voters would defect back to the GOP._ (With this the blue margin in San Diego shrank to merely 162,267.) I still found it easy to get lots of blue states. Didn’t even need “gerrymander-shaped” boundaries. > [@Middle America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-america/844823/37): > > [off-topic] > … I’ve just re-checked the numbers and _That simply is not true._ You can divide California into several states — almost as many as you like! — _all with very comfortable Blue majorities_, and with very straightforward, compact, non-gerrymander-looking boundaries. > > Maps dividing California into red/blue counties or precincts are extremely misleading because most of the red areas are mountainous regions with extremely low population density. The redneck votes of mountainous California would be drowned out by Sacramento and Sonoma Counties. Throw in Marin County for a blue landslide. BTW, note that Humboldt County voted for Clinton by almost a 2-to-1 margin! Coastal elites? 😛 > > In the south, the R votes in the Central Valley (Bakersfield etc.) would be drowned out by Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Bernardino Counties. (Note that Fresno County voted for Clinton.)… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/51 "2019-12-19T08:49:58Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > See a certain president behind bars. Should that be high on the priority list of a Democratic presidency and congress? Let New York prosecute Trump. I understand they have enough material to tie him up in court for probably the rest of his life, and those will be state charges, so the next Republican president won’t be able to pardon him. Best to get Trump as far off the national stage as possible. Let him go back to what he was in the 1980s; New York’s local embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/52 "2019-12-19T11:26:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > And, although I cannot speak for **iiandyiiii** , it seems quite clear to me that adding Senate and EC representation for these 51st and 52nd states would make better future outcomes more likely. And making better future outcomes should never be top priority when there are things that needed to be fixed yesterday. People are calling it the number one priority. That means that, if they could get nothing else done, they would do this one thing. I count at most 10 EC votes from this–not enough to have beaten Trump. There are 2 more Senate seats–not remotely enough to get anything done there. The reason to bring them in as States isn’t any sort of political advantage, but to right the wrong that they are part of the US but don’t get fair representation. And I understand that principle. But it’s hardly a first order of business action. I don’t not support it. I don’t support it as the number 1 priority that we should pull out all the stops for, possibly accomplishing nothing else. That’s what a top priority is–that which you could not go without. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/53 "2019-12-19T13:22:36Z")
DC already has EC representation. Getting DC and PR isn’t about the EC, it’s about the Senate. 4 new Democratic Senators. It’s the right thing, because these folks are Americans, but they don’t have representation in the House and Senate. But more urgently important than that, the future of this country is in immediate mortal danger, due to the corruption and immorality of the present version of the Republican party, and the undemocratic nature of the Senate. Adding PR and DC as states doesn’t fix this, but it helps balance against it in a pretty significant way. In short, the country is fucked if we don’t fight with every weapon available against the corrupt, immoral GOP. Adding these states is probably the most powerful weapon, short term, and thus must be the first priority. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/54 "2019-12-19T15:35:27Z")
I’m gonna add to my previous abbreviated list. Increase the size of the House, using the “Wyoming Rule,” for future apportionment. That will result in fairer representation and dilute the built-in Republican/rural state advantage by a little bit at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068/55 "2019-12-19T15:53:41Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I’m gonna add to my previous abbreviated list. > > Increase the size of the House, using the “Wyoming Rule,” for future apportionment. That will result in fairer representation and dilute the built-in Republican/rural state advantage by a little bit at the same time. I’m in favor of this too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-voters-what-would-you-want-accomplished-in-the-event-of-a-2020-victory/844068.md?page=2)