Letters from an American January 12, 2025
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Jan 13, 2025 Dive into the political landscape post-2024 and unravel the GOP power grabs in North Carolina. Explore the historical roots of gerrymandering and its legal battles today. Discover how extreme right-wing policies dominate gerrymandered states, echoing strategies from the 1850s. Learn about Martin Van Buren's power consolidation tactics and their relevance to today's political challenges. This fascinating discussion connects history with current threats to democracy and social equity.
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North Carolina's Political Turmoil
- North Carolina elected Donald Trump as president, but also elected Democrats for governor and attorney general.
- Republicans, refusing to accept some election outcomes, stripped power from these newly elected Democrats.
Operation Red Map's Impact
- In 2010, the Republican 'Operation Red Map' aimed to control state legislatures for redistricting after the census.
- This led to skewed representation in North Carolina, shifting from a fairly even split to a strong Republican advantage despite Democrats winning more votes.
Gerrymandering and Voting Rights
- When Democrats held majorities, they passed laws easing voting, and Black voter turnout increased.
- Republicans, gaining power through redistricting, passed laws making voting harder, even after courts found their initial maps unconstitutional due to racial bias.