The Morning After...

There were painful disappointments last night, but none that were unexpected. 

I have tried to tell folks that we in Northwest Georgia are not as extreme as our Congresswoman. That she is an electoral fluke. But after last night I have to face the indisputable fact that a majority of my beloved friends, neighbors, relatives, former students, and associates in and around my hometown were willing to vote for an ignorant and hateful fascist who will caucus with Republicans sooner than for an articulate, moderate, and patriotic candidate who would caucus with the Democratic Party.

The tenth district of Ohio in 2019 (This district has actually been made
more compact but the illustration is too good to pass up. :-) )

This is the current map of Congressional districts in northwest Georgia. The MAGA party Gerrymandered Cobb and Fulton counties into four districts each. Gwinnett and Henry were each carved up between three districts. Even little Clayton County, the most Democratic county in the state, was split into two parts. All of this was to erase two competitive districts and divide Democratic voters in such a way that one additional sure-fire Republican district would result.

Gerrymandering is producing extremists like our Congresswoman and dividing America more radically with each census and  ridding us of moderates on the left and right. Democrats hardened their advantage in some blue states and Republicans (most despicably in Florida) did the same in red states. This is horrible for small-r republican government.

But how wonderful that our votes have established that:

• We don’t want legislators telling women what to do about their health choices. Abortions should be safe and legal.
• There will be no “red wave”
• Georgia is a ‘purple’ state
• The fascist wannabe in Maralago had a very bad night.
• Young folks can vote!