Reconfiguring the States (or the Senate)

For John, BLUF:  There are various plans out there for reforming how we organize the Legislative Branch (Article I) of the Federal Government.  The Supreme Court has applied one-man-one-vote to the States, but cannot apply the rule to the US Senate.  The items below could give more power to rural states, while concentrating the power of urban area states.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Secession fever spikes in five states as conservatives seek to escape blue rule

From The Washington Times, by Ms Valerie Richardson, 19 February 2020.

Here is the lede plus four:

You’ve got Oregonians seeking to cascade into Idaho, Virginians who identify as West Virginians, Illinoians fighting to escape Chicago, Californians dreaming of starting a 51st state, and New Yorkers who think three states are better than one.

Separation fever is sweeping the nation as quixotic but tenacious bands of frustrated rural dwellers, suburbanites and conservatives seek to break free from states with legislatures increasingly controlled by liberal big cities and metropolitan strongholds.

“Oregon is controlled by the northwest portion of the state, Portland to Eugene.  That’s urban land, and their decisions are not really representing rural Oregon,” said Mike McCarter, president of Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho.  “They have their agenda and they’re moving forward with it, and they’re not listening to us.”

In Virginia, the newly elected Democratic majority’s progressive legislation on issues such as gun rights has spurred “Vexit,” or “Virginia exit,” a campaign to merge right-tilting rural counties into neighboring West Virginia that organizers say has the potential to catch fire nationwide.

“To be honest, if this works — you’ve got a lot of red areas in this country that are totally dominated by a blue metropolis,” said Vexit2020 leader Rick Boyer, a former member of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors.  “If it works in Virginia, there’s no reason it can’t reshape the political map.”

Change is good, but we need to think out the long term implications.  The future is not a straight line from here to there.  Rather it is about the futurable.  What are all the ways this could likely play out?  Fate does not promise just one way, but various ways.  Various branches and sequels must be considered.  You can plan one thing, but new circumstances, perhaps created by your idea, may cause it to veer off course.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff