I'll have to go back to Brendan Nyhan's blog. On my first visit I've barely scrolled down the screen before I see arguments for 3 much needed electoral reforms.
Posted by armand at November 1, 2004 12:39 PM | TrackBack | Posted to PoliticsThe visual impact of the red/blue/purple America data reinforces the need for reform. What the right shows as red dominance would look a whole lot different to a direct, popular vote. The really, truly "red america" is on the extreme end of the low population.
And I know I'll take some lumps for bringing him up again, but I'm going back to that David Brooks column I blogged about awhile ago (how about if I all him an idiot savant on that one column, ok? will that help?). As you may recall, his idea was that there was a fundamental philosophical difference between dems and reps, in part based on where they live and how much they have to interact with others (i.e. do they see the world as free and independent, or crowded and constrained). While we didn't accept his conclusions or even all of his argument, I still think there is a kernel to be salvaged that has something to do with this urban/rural purple USA.
Posted by: binky at November 4, 2004 12:40 PM | PERMALINK