cool map: U.S. Redrawn As 50 States With Equal Population

[kpete]

Neil Freeman, of "Fake Is The New Real," redrew the U.S. as 50 states with equal population. In a post, he explained his approach:

The fundamental problem of the electoral college is that the states of the United States are too disparate in size and influence. The largest state is 66 times as populous as the smallest and has 18 times as many electoral votes. This allows for Electoral College results that don't match the popular vote. To remedy this issue, the Electoral Reform Map redivides the fifty United States into 50 states of equal population. The 2010 Census records a population of 308,745,538 for the United States, which this map divides into 50 states, each with a population of about 6,175,000.

http://fakeisthenewreal.org/reform/
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/map-us-redrawn-as-50-states-with-equal?ref=fpblg

[House of Roberts]

1. If an algorithm can create this map

why can't it be law that it can be used impartially to redistrict states after each census?

[oldhippie]

3. It could ....

... all it would take is a Constitutional Amendment.

[dairydog91]

9. Curiously enough, it may be least Constitutional proposal under the Constitution.

Article 5, which describes the Amendment process, specifically forbids use of the Amendment power to deprive states of their equal vote in the Senate, which Article One fixes at 2 senators per state. The only way to get around the restriction is to get the assent of every single state in the Union (Yes, one state can prevent such an Amendment from going through).

Article 4 prevents the formation of new states, or the rearrangement of old states, unless the proposal is accepted by the legislature of each state having its borders rearranged. Basically, the Constitution is heavily based on the idea of the federal government being a creation of the states; sure the federal government has national-level powers, but the States remain important and are not merely federal districts which can be rearranged at the will of the federal government.

[irisblue]

2. okay only if

Kasich to the Firelands, Strickland still in Scioto as Governor....and of course Sherrord Brown and Nina Turner are my US Senators

[RevStPatrick]

4. My favorite comment from the TPM piece...

"AGENDA 21!! OBAMAKENYANMARXIST PLOT FOR NWO TAKEOVER OF 'MURICA, NEW STATES DICTATED BY U.N. VICEROYS, GUNS TO BE TAKEN AT GUNPOINT!!!"

[onehandle]

12. How did they find out our secret Pledge To Obama? nt

[annabanana]

5. Love the new names!. . . kick. . .n/t

[TalkingDog]

6. So.... ummmm.... forgive the obvious objection, but

What happens when a states population changes?

[Avalux]

7. I grew up in Allegheny and now live in Chinati.

That sounds so weird....but I bet if Fox News only showed this map to their viewers, it would become their reality after awhile.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Hey fellow Chinatian!

[Avalux]

13. Hello!

Kinda glad not in Big Thicket! Big Thicket??

[Chisox08]

8. The State of Chicago sounds like a good idea.

LA, NYC and Washington DC being their own states sound good as well.

[apocalypsehow]

11. Cool map! Rec.

[Skinner]

14. This is really cool.

I could stare at this map for hours. Fascinating.