Does North Carolina really suck more than Wisconsin?

[lutefisk]

They're beating us, but not by much. We're falling behind a bit in the race to the bottom because Walker is in his phony "Midwest Nice" mode while campaigning for 2018, but I think we actually win, or lose, because of how rapidly we've fallen. I've felt since 2011 that if what happened to Wisconsin happens at the federal level, it might set off a horrible chain of events and bring the country down. We're on that path. Interesting article in Slate:

America Could Look Like North Carolina by 2020. Yikes
What happens when Republicans have enough power to do virtually anything they want? On the federal level, that’s still an open question: We’ll find out if Democrats fail to mount meaningful resistance to President Donald Trump by 2018—or if Republicans stop infighting for long enough to realize how strong they already are. But on the state level, North Carolina provides us a preview. Thanks to gerrymandering that has been ruled to be unconstitutionally racist, Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the state’s General Assembly. (A federal court ordered new districts and special elections this year, but the Supreme Court blocked them.) This week, Republicans rushed to pass a slew of bills that could permanently damage the state’s courts, elections, universities, and the environment. They also provide a glimpse at the havoc congressional Republicans in Washington could wreak with just a few more votes in the House and Senate...

LINK to Slate article

[delisen]

1. Wisconsin as Bellwether-seems like it to me

The changes in Wisconsin over the last decade are scary, but we have to look at them to understand the takeover and reverse it..

[lutefisk]

2. With all branches of state government corrupted, reversing this is tough

The Wisconsin Republicans can essentially do whatever they want, especially with federal government oversight rapidly disappearing. There is no one to step in anymore- the attorney general and state supreme court don't even pretend to be legitimate. And at this point in the 2018 Wisconsin governor's race, it even seems possible Walker will run unopposed by a viable candidate.

What's left? Protesting? The legislature is even clamping down on that, starting with the UW System.

[HelenWheels]

3. Democratic legislators have to stand up and run

Our Dems are too much like Rethuglicans, afraid of losing their seats. They need to bite the bullet and put themselves out there.

[lutefisk]

4. It's starting to look like they're playing it safe for their egos, salaries, and per diems.

No, they won't have the right wing billionaire's money Walker spends every day soliciting. But they do have 20 months to visit every town and county in the state. Door to door.