223Drone and i like how to defend themselves Reps said they weren't being racist with their gerrymandering but were just trying to make Reps control the majority
Before we start praising Trevor for this segment, keep in mind Jon did the same, AND the part right at 1:30 is almost a perfect replica of what Jon did, right down to the dick joke. Not hating on Trevor, however duly note the drastic similarities in the two, especially for this specific segment.
If you didn't have the electoral college, the candidates would just pick the 10 largest cities in American and just campaign and promise goodies to those cities because that's where the majority of Americans live. The person in rural Ohio would be irrelevant
Well if you knew anything about the electoral college the higher a states population the more electors that state has to vote in the party that state chooses. If you didn't have the electoral college, there would be no need to campaign in places like Iowa, South Dakota, or even Ohio. It would be concentrated strictly on the largest cities. You would basically have America's 15 largest cities decide the election because that is where the majority of the population lives. How would a person in Wyoming ever have a voice in the election? Did you look at the election map from 2016? Look at all the red compared to the blue
In 2008, California passed Prop 11, which put the power to redraw district lines in the hands of the independent Citizen Redistricting Commission. Previously, the state legislature drew the lines, allowing incumbents to remain in power 99% of the time. In 2010, we passed Prop 20 to allow the commission to redraw district lines for US House seats as well. This effectively eliminated most forms of gerrymandering in our state. Other states should follow suit. Be warned: when we voted on Prop 11, it barely passed. The road to end gerrymandering will be an uphill battle.
Democracy has a tough time parsing democratically.. Besides the solution wasnt to draw better lines, but git rid of the absurd idiotic idea of local plurality for representation.
Here in Alabama, we're not content with just gerrymandering. Were now getting rid of special elections for totally unrelated reasons that are in no way at all tied to the Jones victory. Yaaaaay :/
Chase Hilyer well hell I can only keep up with so much Idiocy and as u know today is at fever pitch. I’ve always kept up with political phukery but I didn’t know this.. Forestdale
I'm glad someone in the MSM (if you can really call the daily show that) finally acknowledged that this issue is way bigger than Russia spreading a bunch of memes. It's not the only thing either. Voter suppression is a huge problem as well.
p-mac looks fine by me, since most of california is vastly uninhabited desert (hence the the large districts)and you have two very large cities (hence the many small districts) their isn't any squiggly lines like other states
There's a fascinating and detailed study on gerrymandering at Princeton, with details on how to detect it, where it happens most, and who benefits from it. I probably can't link it directly due to comment filters, but the title of the first page is "Gerrymanders, Part 1: Busting the both-sides-do-it myth". It found that the states with the most measurable gerrymandering are Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana. The net effect nationwide was to give the GOP at least 26 more congressional seats than it would have in a representative system. Similar results are seen in presidential elections due to the electoral college. It has elected the loser of the popular vote four times in our two-party system, and all four times were in the GOP's favor. Additionally, the 100-seat House further favors the GOP by allocating disproportionately more power per capita to people in red states. Like, Wyoming has 67 times more Senate representation per capita than California does, because they each have the same number of senators but California has 67 times as many people. If anything, Trevor's summary was relatively mild since he didn't outright state that voting system shenanigans heavily skew the entire system in the GOP's favor.
For those who want to better understand what and how gerrymandering works, (so dems and progressives who have brain) I really recommend John Oliver's segment on this. It's extremely funny and informative.
yeah John Oliver never focuses on one issue week after week and he brings the facts. Others do to but he brings more resources and supporting evidence to the table that only a blind sheep in denial would ignore
Worst Commenter On TH-cam I should really check him out. Also, even beyond TH-cam videos, just read the goddamn news articles lol. *PSA: Don't rely on TH-cam for actual news and facts, use it as a supplementary note.*
And the reporter in one of the clips Trevor used pretty much plagiarized the comment Oliver used on his video, except changed it from 'That's politicians choosing their voters,' to 'rather than vice-versa.'
This was also explained on an episode of Adam Ruins Everything, in a rather user friendly way. America's electoral system needs to be abolished, it's completely illogical at this day and age to call that system a democracy. Switch to MMP and everyone will benefit for it.
George B. Wolff's on kinda hard to explain quickly but this site does a pretty good job, it's a much fairer system and forces politicians to work together better www.cgpgrey.com/blog/mixed-member-proportional-representation-explained.html
Super Secret taking away legislators' right to draw new district lines. Almost all civilised countries have a system in which if politicians/legislators want to change district lines, they have to make a good case for why they are doing it from policy/infrastructure perspective. In the US, they can just change the district map willy-nilly. Taking that power away will go a long way in stopping gerrymandering.
Natalee Steele lol nope...california is the most controversial and notorious gerrymandered state for longest time...yet he didnt mention it once...I wonder why???
The more i learn about this country makes me more mad that i got arrested for pot. wtf man everyone wants it legal and half the us smokes so why is it that i cant afford college anymore because im paying off precourt fees and fines. THE SYSTEM RUINED MY CAREER.
I'm in North Carolina and just a few days ago, judges ruled it unconstitutional and ordered that the maps *would* have been redrawn... but then the Supreme Court decided "Nah, let's leave it, looks fine to me!" America!
TheCityKid415 SFC Yes, yes, he did. Not many people listened. It happened during the racist movement, The Tea Party, in order to hide the agenda of disenfranchising minority voters.
So we mess them up by going independent. I mean, we'd still vote the same and sooner or later they'd track our votes and sort us that way, but it would be great to watch them scramble for a couple of elections because we'd all resigned from the political parties.
Third parties aren't viable until the voting system gets fixed. Plurality voting (vote for one) plus Duverger's Law means we're stuck with a two-party system. However, this could be fixed by changing to a voting system which doesn't have that problem, like Schulze Condorcet. It would make third parties viable practically overnight, and as a bonus it also tends to favor centrists instead of extremists.
The two party system is just a natural consequence of Duverger's law for simple plurality ("winner-take-all" or "first-past-the-post") voting. CGP Grey did an excellent breakdown of, well, huge parts of why the American electoral system is broken five or six years ago.
Yup. Plurality voting plus Duverger's Law equals two-party system. Throw in the Overton Window and asymmetrical political warfare, and we get the ratchet effect pulling the US farther and farther into right-wing extremism. Much of modern life is determined by what is, basically, a bug in the political system. Change the voting system to something without that bug, like Schulze Condorcet, and the related problems should go away too. As a bonus, Condorcet also makes third parties viable practically overnight... and tends to favor centrists instead of extremists.
Illinois 4th district is used very often by people against gerrymandering, when it's one of the few examples of gerrymandering done right--it connects two neighbourhoods that are overwhelmingly Hispanic which gives those Hispanic voters more of an opportunity to be fairly represented
3brerfox Stop voting for Republicans. The only reason Republicans have power even though they are the minority is due to gerrymandering. Stop voting for them and vote blue or even independent then gerrymandering won't mean shit.
Canadian provinces created independent commissions with people like judges and university presidents and such who drew blocky rectangles and eliminated gerrymandering completely. Politicians were removed from the process. Only problem here is that Justices tend to be political and university presidents are viewed as biased, so it's a bit hard to translate.
The Fair Representation Act would severely reduce gerrymandering and create a multiparty system at the same time. Too bad it's dying in committee. BUT if you write your local reps, you can ask them to take meaningful action.
FireRupee problem with that is writing to your rep and asking for them to give you more opportunities to not vote for them and asking them to give up the thing that got them and/or members of their party seats kind of invalidates the reasons that they have for listening to what you have to say.
This happened to my district just a few months ago in NYC! For over 12 years I've been voting at the same location and all of a sudden, this year I had to drive 15 minutes to vote at a different NEW spot!!!
Daniel Gehring You do know the Queen doesn't have anything to do with running the country don't you? The monarch is really just a figure head. Treat yourself, go and read the difference between a constitutional and absolute monarch. Before you type some more garbage. And yes there isn't this blatant vote rigging in the UK.
Funky Monkey1886 I mean, is it really that hard to relate? When England had it's latest terror attacks, or hell even when a few nights ago when Colbert was mocking the Minister of Loneliness, I didn't heckle in the comments... but every comment section these days is 90% full of people from other countries coming on our shows, aimed at us, seemingly for the sole purpose of feeling smug. Gerrymandering is a real, serious subject, and while I do hate to sound like a special snowflake (I really do), it's offensive that you would say something so unhelpful and unmindful of the issue just for the few moments of vague superiority you felt. So I'm sorry if I snapped at you, I'm sorry that I pointed out something that (for all your bluster) is inherently, demonstrably true... but please, in the future, have at least a little heart, some of us are trying to stay sane. I came down to the comments to see if someone had any ideas how I could help _end_ this abuse of power, not to hear a bunch of British people have patriotism boners. And yes, I know what he facts you're quoting. It doesn't change the fact that what I said is, at least technically, true. If you're all so enlightened you could have easily stopped having a monarch a long time ago and not auto-lose this argument.
Daniel Gehring The monarch doesn't have any real power. The country is run by the elected government. Google it. You made a false statement by claiming the UK isn't democratic because it has a monarch. Go ahead believing in your own bullshit, I don't care. Or you could try to educate yourself and maybe admit you were wrong. Highly unlikely, I won't hold my breath.
Mr Özyıldırım I fully agree. We're a bunch of violent hicks and I'm sorry. Hell, we've got a Trump so there's no denying it. I have no control over that. Best I can do is say you have my permission to give em hell... although, as is evidenced from this thread, that probably won't work there either. Just know there are a few of us who can actually empathize instead of spewing patriotic rhetoric.
It was named after a person; it's a portmanteau of "Governor Elbridge Gerry," who started the trend (or at least made it known) in 1812 by redistricting Massachusetts in favor of the Democratic-Republican Party, and "Salamander," since the district looked like a salamander.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver did a more precise piece about Gerrymandering: th-cam.com/video/A-4dIImaodQ/w-d-xo.html But it was a good piece, Trevor, don't get me wrong :D
It's gotten worse in recent years. As the progressive movement gains steam and the powers that be double-down in repression, the more you see voter suppression and other things.
I might be remembering the wrong district but the earmuffs one is actually designed to be an all Latino district so that they have a representative. Gerrymandering CAN be a good thing but it’s almost never actually used in a beneficial way for democracy, representation and voter equality as politicians don’t seem to be able to get past abusing everything for their ulterior motives.
And the space in the middle was an African American dominant district. This is why I agree with John Oliver, we need to give the job of drawing district lines to independent commissions to reduce biased gerrymandering.
I kind of suspect that those districts get so much attention is that the ones actually used to negatively influence elections aren’t the first looked at. You try to fix gerrymandering and the first one that gets put forth to be destroyed is the one that doesn’t need fixing so it’s being held hostage against everything else when we all know the people “fixing” things can conveniently forget afterwards to go work on the actually bad ones.
Julio Castellanos, not in that example (or at least not partisan packing), because the entire area votes heavily for Democrats. The weird shape wasn’t made to cut around Republicans, it was made so that people in the Latino neighborhoods can elect someone they feel represents them (and the same for the people in the African American neighborhood). Both will typically elect Democrats, just different Democrats.
Noo lmao that's called packing this thread is dumb. When 90% or whatever of hispanics are in a single district that means that they only get one vote from that district. If they were spread around they'd account for say 30% of 3 different districts and if only 20% of the other voters vote with them then then they get a majority... 3 votes instead of 1. Research packing. There is NO beneficial gerrymandering. It's always gonna be titled toward whoever draws the districts, republican or democrat.
So basically our votes still don't matter, another reason for me and others to never vote. Thanks America you really have proven to be corrupt to the very core.
Trent Morgan I hear you Trent. To the others, you choose to participate in a corrupted system, we refuse to. Politicians in general are only looking out for themselves and the people who make them wealthy. Gerrymandering is just one of the ways they maintain power. Ask yourself, why does it cost so much to run a campaign? Consider the possibility that making it so that only the wealthy can run, means that only the wealthy can get elected. Its difficult, if not impossible, to beat someone at any game where you have rules and they don't
I feel your frustration, but not voting is being complacent and allowing it to happen. I know it feels impossible, but you may even attempt to run yourself or find someone with whom you share common values. You can start a movement. I am seeing more and more citizens in my area running for these offices and doing quite well. Start small, local municipality, then state, and then General (Federal). You cannot begin to walk unless you place one foot in front of the other.
Best Segment So Far. Trevor Noah is really coming into his own...Gerrymandering is the biggest issue in America's Voting system by far. -John Stewart is in His cottage with Corbét sipping Hot Eagle Blood Tea As a proud Dad Today.
Most don't understand what Gerrymandering is. It's hard to NOT see that now...thanks for educating us with humor. The truth always makes us laugh, and pictures ARE worth a thousand words.
This is just one reason why we need another Constitutional Convention...and soon!!! IF we still value this thing we call Democracy! Need to reign this problem in with a new Amendment. While we're at it we can add an Amendment that mandates public (NOT PRIVATE) funding of our elections!
I see I'm not the first to say that John Oliver already did a piece on gerrymandering. Used some of the same footage, too. Oh, and by the way, the "earmuff district" was made that way because it consists of mostly Hispanic families, and the area in between the ends is primarily African-American. That was just them making sure their needs were met.
John Oliver did a good job covering this. Also Trevor does a great Mickey Mouse impression.
223Drone I miss Oliver :/ when they're on hiatus it feels like FOREVER
tenacious645 he's back
223Drone and i like how to defend themselves Reps said they weren't being racist with their gerrymandering but were just trying to make Reps control the majority
Also Trevor kinda stole a few of John Oliver's jokes
John Oliver is the content cop of Government, Beaureaucracy and Big Corporations.
Who else was unsure of Trevor at first, but can’t miss a show anymore? Took time to get over Jon, but this man has TALENT.
Before we start praising Trevor for this segment, keep in mind Jon did the same, AND the part right at 1:30 is almost a perfect replica of what Jon did, right down to the dick joke. Not hating on Trevor, however duly note the drastic similarities in the two, especially for this specific segment.
Gavin Teeter he was always welcomed !
Gavin Teeter too bad democrats invented gerrymandering....so republicans had to do it too in order to stay competitive!!! Fucking bs
P -Mac
The democratic-Republican Party in the 19th century created gerrymandering dipshit. Fuck off.
P -Mac back then democrats were Republicans nice try tho
Spot on mickey
The real problem is that the popular vote doesn't determine the winner. Gerrymandering is just another way of nullifying people's votes
They need some GDI up in there! Behemoths and shit!
If you didn't have the electoral college, the candidates would just pick the 10 largest cities in American and just campaign and promise goodies to those cities because that's where the majority of Americans live. The person in rural Ohio would be irrelevant
whats wrong with that, who care about Ohio. if Ohio was nuked the rest of the country would not care
So basically the hell with what the rest of America wants? The electoral college gives every state, based on population a say in the election
Well if you knew anything about the electoral college the higher a states population the more electors that state has to vote in the party that state chooses. If you didn't have the electoral college, there would be no need to campaign in places like Iowa, South Dakota, or even Ohio. It would be concentrated strictly on the largest cities. You would basically have America's 15 largest cities decide the election because that is where the majority of the population lives. How would a person in Wyoming ever have a voice in the election? Did you look at the election map from 2016? Look at all the red compared to the blue
If you vote it should count. It should be that simple.
landfair123 I agree they should take out the middleman (electoral college)
That's how it works in most democracies...
*But not the US!*
That Micky voice was so spot on that it reminded me of that South Park Ep.
The one with the Jonas Brothers XD
Kushagr Joshi well, both are on Comedy Central.
In 2008, California passed Prop 11, which put the power to redraw district lines in the hands of the independent Citizen Redistricting Commission. Previously, the state legislature drew the lines, allowing incumbents to remain in power 99% of the time. In 2010, we passed Prop 20 to allow the commission to redraw district lines for US House seats as well. This effectively eliminated most forms of gerrymandering in our state. Other states should follow suit. Be warned: when we voted on Prop 11, it barely passed. The road to end gerrymandering will be an uphill battle.
try telling this p-mac so he can shut the hell up
Still, though, that sounds like a definite win. Something that other states could look at and follow suit with.
Democracy has a tough time parsing democratically.. Besides the solution wasnt to draw better lines, but git rid of the absurd idiotic idea of local plurality for representation.
So who thought of the idea and how was it pushed forward?
Pennsylvania's constitution does not allow for ballot initiatives, hence the legal tactic.
Trevor went South Park Mickey Mouse for a sec there.
Alfatazer _ california is most notorious gerrymandering state...but that state is democrat...doesnt fit his MO. Fuck trevor noah!
P-Mac No, Fuck you you lying piece of inbred trailer trash. Cite a district.
P -Mac California's districts look fine, they are no where near as gerrymandered as North Carolina's.
Alfatazer _ it's Mr. mouse ha-ha.
It's ALL rigged.. every bit
Here in Alabama, we're not content with just gerrymandering. Were now getting rid of special elections for totally unrelated reasons that are in no way at all tied to the Jones victory. Yaaaaay :/
I live in Tuscaloosa, I haven't heard about it, but i'm not surprised!
Luke Archer
www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/24/alabama-house-votes-end-special-u-s-senate-elections/1061780001/
I'm The Heroic Protagonist whistling Dixie is the best aint it
I live in downtown Birmingham, 7th district. It’s almost as badly gerrymandered as the ones shown in this video
Chase Hilyer well hell I can only keep up with so much Idiocy and as u know today is at fever pitch.
I’ve always kept up with political phukery but I didn’t know this..
Forestdale
I'm glad someone in the MSM (if you can really call the daily show that) finally acknowledged that this issue is way bigger than Russia spreading a bunch of memes. It's not the only thing either. Voter suppression is a huge problem as well.
The mickey mouse voice 😂😂😂😂
Natalee Steele 😂😹🎭🤡🎭🃏😹😂😹🃏🎭🤡🎭🤡🎭🤡🃏😹😂😹
This is screwed until everyone can't be trusted
kuulie t california is most controversial gerrymandered state and has been for decades...but that doesnt fit trevors narrative...
+ P -Mac
Trevor clearly said that this is an issue for both Democrats and Republicans, but that doesn't fit your narrative...
kuulie t that’s um.. already happening
p-mac looks fine by me, since most of california is vastly uninhabited desert (hence the the large districts)and you have two very large cities (hence the many small districts) their isn't any squiggly lines like other states
There's a fascinating and detailed study on gerrymandering at Princeton, with details on how to detect it, where it happens most, and who benefits from it. I probably can't link it directly due to comment filters, but the title of the first page is "Gerrymanders, Part 1: Busting the both-sides-do-it myth".
It found that the states with the most measurable gerrymandering are Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana. The net effect nationwide was to give the GOP at least 26 more congressional seats than it would have in a representative system.
Similar results are seen in presidential elections due to the electoral college. It has elected the loser of the popular vote four times in our two-party system, and all four times were in the GOP's favor. Additionally, the 100-seat House further favors the GOP by allocating disproportionately more power per capita to people in red states. Like, Wyoming has 67 times more Senate representation per capita than California does, because they each have the same number of senators but California has 67 times as many people.
If anything, Trevor's summary was relatively mild since he didn't outright state that voting system shenanigans heavily skew the entire system in the GOP's favor.
OMG, Trevor as violent boss Mickey was like a pie for the soul. So funny
For those who want to better understand what and how gerrymandering works, (so dems and progressives who have brain) I really recommend John Oliver's segment on this. It's extremely funny and informative.
yeah John Oliver never focuses on one issue week after week and he brings the facts. Others do to but he brings more resources and supporting evidence to the table that only a blind sheep in denial would ignore
Every one does this
Worst Commenter On TH-cam
I should really check him out.
Also, even beyond TH-cam videos, just read the goddamn news articles lol.
*PSA: Don't rely on TH-cam for actual news and facts, use it as a supplementary note.*
CGP GREY!
You are goddamn right
Canada had this too, then eliminated it completely decades ago. Canada - not just hockey and healthcare.
John Oliver made a piece about this a long time ago. Funny enough, he even made that same “you can draw a penis” joke!
And the reporter in one of the clips Trevor used pretty much plagiarized the comment Oliver used on his video, except changed it from 'That's politicians choosing their voters,' to 'rather than vice-versa.'
Also that reporter said it in 2012, two years before LWT premiered
I think Trevor's penis joke is better since it actually follows the lines.
Good, more people become aware of the problem - isn't that the reason why they make this show? So people can be entertained - and informed?
more copies are needed to get this shameful scheme outlawed
It's hilarious and sad how long we've known about this.
This was also explained on an episode of Adam Ruins Everything, in a rather user friendly way. America's electoral system needs to be abolished, it's completely illogical at this day and age to call that system a democracy. Switch to MMP and everyone will benefit for it.
Michael Snow what's "MMP" ?
Thats because it’s a constitutional republic. Not a democracy...
George B. Wolff's on kinda hard to explain quickly but this site does a pretty good job, it's a much fairer system and forces politicians to work together better
www.cgpgrey.com/blog/mixed-member-proportional-representation-explained.html
How can we prevent gerrymandering to have accurate representation for all voters?
Super Secret Now that's the million dollar question isn't it. 🤔
Super Secret why can't ALL people be represented? Like in a real democracy? I don't understand the US system🤔
Lina Marcela Silva-Bedoya
To be fai,r, it's not just the US. People in power makes laws to keep them in power regardless of country.
Super Secret taking away legislators' right to draw new district lines. Almost all civilised countries have a system in which if politicians/legislators want to change district lines, they have to make a good case for why they are doing it from policy/infrastructure perspective. In the US, they can just change the district map willy-nilly. Taking that power away will go a long way in stopping gerrymandering.
True. There is no reason to have such a system in the age of computers.
More people need to talk about gerrymandering!
Dying from that Mickey Mouse impersonation😂😂
THIS. I want my vote to actually count, please.
People I talk to laugh, but Comedy Central is one of the best places for unbiased and fair news. Lol
Finally attention is turning to this problem. Thank you for adding to the discussion, Trevor.
Great again Trevor ♡♡♡
Natalee Steele lol nope...california is the most controversial and notorious gerrymandered state for longest time...yet he didnt mention it once...I wonder why???
The more i learn about this country makes me more mad that i got arrested for pot. wtf man everyone wants it legal and half the us smokes so why is it that i cant afford college anymore because im paying off precourt fees and fines. THE SYSTEM RUINED MY CAREER.
Great work as always man
Jose Perez why didnt he mention the most notorious gerrymandering state.. california...oh because it is democrat...BS!
Excellent summation.
ME: Ok but Trevor, this has been happening for over 100 years. Why now with the video?
5:34
ME: ...Oh.
Sel its high Time to fix this screwed up system. And, while we're at it let's get rid of those super delegates.
Sounds like 100 years too long.
Because you have not fixed that problem yet.
Sel are you trying to make this a racial thing? I don't get your question.
You apparently didn't complete the video. Press play and try again.
Thanks, Trev!
Dat Mickey Mouse Voice Though!!! XDDD
I'm in North Carolina and just a few days ago, judges ruled it unconstitutional and ordered that the maps *would* have been redrawn...
but then the Supreme Court decided "Nah, let's leave it, looks fine to me!"
America!
We were taught this in school. I always called the way we vote is BS.
Great piece.
On time for once! Woooooo!
Trevor's always good with the voices
So much for democracy. Muricaaaa!!!
Trevor's "Gangsta Mickey" killed me!
Trevor, how is your Mickey better than your southern accent? Also, Minnesota’s sixth is great for this.
Bruh that Mickey torturing ppl bit had me weak :D :D :D
That Mickey voice lmaoo
Well said!
When you realize that you live in Maryland’s District 3, along with other federal workers and their brats XD
I wish I could meet Trevor Noah just once. If I could meet him and John Stewart my life would be complete. 👌🏽
Sabrina Rivera Really? 🤦🏼♂️ smh
Aim low.
beautifully done Trevor..
These videos are so quiet
"That sounds right."
No... it doesn't!
It looks more like a stockholders' voting than actual democracy.
Universal vote is what the U.S. needs.
True
Who would've thought Trevor was Mickey..
That acting was spot on lol
Obama explained this very well when he was in office.
TheCityKid415 SFC Yes, yes, he did. Not many people listened. It happened during the racist movement, The Tea Party, in order to hide the agenda of disenfranchising minority voters.
It was after the 2010 Mid-terms I believe...
😂😂😂 I had to pause at 4:18 for like five minutes because I couldn't stop laughing.
So we mess them up by going independent. I mean, we'd still vote the same and sooner or later they'd track our votes and sort us that way, but it would be great to watch them scramble for a couple of elections because we'd all resigned from the political parties.
Third parties aren't viable until the voting system gets fixed. Plurality voting (vote for one) plus Duverger's Law means we're stuck with a two-party system. However, this could be fixed by changing to a voting system which doesn't have that problem, like Schulze Condorcet. It would make third parties viable practically overnight, and as a bonus it also tends to favor centrists instead of extremists.
I love Trevor. He tackles sensitive important issues with the perfect dose of humour.
Korg voice: Anyone wanna start a revolution
thanks for the eye opener
Your two Party system really works well
FreddyFish there is a green party and independence. At least 4 but they have almost no say in the grand scheme of things.
The two party system is just a natural consequence of Duverger's law for simple plurality ("winner-take-all" or "first-past-the-post") voting. CGP Grey did an excellent breakdown of, well, huge parts of why the American electoral system is broken five or six years ago.
Yup. Plurality voting plus Duverger's Law equals two-party system. Throw in the Overton Window and asymmetrical political warfare, and we get the ratchet effect pulling the US farther and farther into right-wing extremism. Much of modern life is determined by what is, basically, a bug in the political system.
Change the voting system to something without that bug, like Schulze Condorcet, and the related problems should go away too. As a bonus, Condorcet also makes third parties viable practically overnight... and tends to favor centrists instead of extremists.
...tape sharpies to a bunch of roombas lol🤣🤣🤣
Silly America, why bother with districts when proportional representation (mmp) solves this problem
Illinois 4th district is used very often by people against gerrymandering, when it's one of the few examples of gerrymandering done right--it connects two neighbourhoods that are overwhelmingly Hispanic which gives those Hispanic voters more of an opportunity to be fairly represented
2:07 This should probably be the Konami Code, right?
Its actually: "Up up down down left right left right b a select start"
theres no select start in the Konami Code
If you want play 2 players there is "Select, Start"
lets not talk about konami
Trevor Noah, I salute you! you have topped yourself--a difficult task always. You Rock! . And oh, it was hysterically funny. Thanks.
What can be done to dismantle gerrymandering?
3brerfox
Stop voting for Republicans. The only reason Republicans have power even though they are the minority is due to gerrymandering. Stop voting for them and vote blue or even independent then gerrymandering won't mean shit.
Worst Commenter On TH-cam
Use a ruler and make str8 lines.
Canadian provinces created independent commissions with people like judges and university presidents and such who drew blocky rectangles and eliminated gerrymandering completely. Politicians were removed from the process. Only problem here is that Justices tend to be political and university presidents are viewed as biased, so it's a bit hard to translate.
The Fair Representation Act would severely reduce gerrymandering and create a multiparty system at the same time. Too bad it's dying in committee.
BUT if you write your local reps, you can ask them to take meaningful action.
FireRupee problem with that is writing to your rep and asking for them to give you more opportunities to not vote for them and asking them to give up the thing that got them and/or members of their party seats kind of invalidates the reasons that they have for listening to what you have to say.
This happened to my district just a few months ago in NYC! For over 12 years I've been voting at the same location and all of a sudden, this year I had to drive 15 minutes to vote at a different NEW spot!!!
The uk doesnt sell this nonsense
Good luck America
BenFritz
Ha, no, they just _have a Queen._ don't judge democracy until you've got one.
Daniel Gehring You do know the Queen doesn't have anything to do with running the country don't you? The monarch is really just a figure head. Treat yourself, go and read the difference between a constitutional and absolute monarch. Before you type some more garbage. And yes there isn't this blatant vote rigging in the UK.
Funky Monkey1886
I mean, is it really that hard to relate? When England had it's latest terror attacks, or hell even when a few nights ago when Colbert was mocking the Minister of Loneliness, I didn't heckle in the comments... but every comment section these days is 90% full of people from other countries coming on our shows, aimed at us, seemingly for the sole purpose of feeling smug. Gerrymandering is a real, serious subject, and while I do hate to sound like a special snowflake (I really do), it's offensive that you would say something so unhelpful and unmindful of the issue just for the few moments of vague superiority you felt. So I'm sorry if I snapped at you, I'm sorry that I pointed out something that (for all your bluster) is inherently, demonstrably true... but please, in the future, have at least a little heart, some of us are trying to stay sane. I came down to the comments to see if someone had any ideas how I could help _end_ this abuse of power, not to hear a bunch of British people have patriotism boners.
And yes, I know what he facts you're quoting. It doesn't change the fact that what I said is, at least technically, true. If you're all so enlightened you could have easily stopped having a monarch a long time ago and not auto-lose this argument.
Daniel Gehring The monarch doesn't have any real power. The country is run by the elected government. Google it. You made a false statement by claiming the UK isn't democratic because it has a monarch. Go ahead believing in your own bullshit, I don't care. Or you could try to educate yourself and maybe admit you were wrong. Highly unlikely, I won't hold my breath.
Mr Özyıldırım
I fully agree. We're a bunch of violent hicks and I'm sorry. Hell, we've got a Trump so there's no denying it. I have no control over that. Best I can do is say you have my permission to give em hell... although, as is evidenced from this thread, that probably won't work there either. Just know there are a few of us who can actually empathize instead of spewing patriotic rhetoric.
This video was great. Since Last Week Tonight is clearly not interested in being a show anymore, it's nice to have content like this available
Every time you say "Gerrymandering", I think it's the name of an actual person.
Like "Jerry Mandering".
It sounds like a old people wandering around confused.
"where's jerry?"
"Mandering about"
"Someone should call his family"
It was named after a person; it's a portmanteau of "Governor Elbridge Gerry," who started the trend (or at least made it known) in 1812 by redistricting Massachusetts in favor of the Democratic-Republican Party, and "Salamander," since the district looked like a salamander.
Love you Trevor
yeeeeeeeeee
I love the image I see when Trevor start the Mickey impression 😂
Most of these jokes are stolen directly from John Oliver
Ok the mickey remark....that's funny as hell. 🤣🤣🤣
Hallah
One of the best political educational video for learning democracy in a fun way. Gift to the world.
Dino trucks rule 34
Kid is Oddish your first and in first like
brian brush thx
Kid is Oddish your welcome like again
Gerrymandering is bigger than Russian meddling: finally someone in the MSM got his head out of his ass!! Thanks Trevor!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver did a more precise piece about Gerrymandering:
th-cam.com/video/A-4dIImaodQ/w-d-xo.html
But it was a good piece, Trevor, don't get me wrong :D
Its called awareness its time for the new generation to make the changes not old ways of thinking and doing .
It's gotten worse in recent years. As the progressive movement gains steam and the powers that be double-down in repression, the more you see voter suppression and other things.
I might be remembering the wrong district but the earmuffs one is actually designed to be an all Latino district so that they have a representative. Gerrymandering CAN be a good thing but it’s almost never actually used in a beneficial way for democracy, representation and voter equality as politicians don’t seem to be able to get past abusing everything for their ulterior motives.
And the space in the middle was an African American dominant district. This is why I agree with John Oliver, we need to give the job of drawing district lines to independent commissions to reduce biased gerrymandering.
Yeah that's called "packing"
I kind of suspect that those districts get so much attention is that the ones actually used to negatively influence elections aren’t the first looked at. You try to fix gerrymandering and the first one that gets put forth to be destroyed is the one that doesn’t need fixing so it’s being held hostage against everything else when we all know the people “fixing” things can conveniently forget afterwards to go work on the actually bad ones.
Julio Castellanos, not in that example (or at least not partisan packing), because the entire area votes heavily for Democrats. The weird shape wasn’t made to cut around Republicans, it was made so that people in the Latino neighborhoods can elect someone they feel represents them (and the same for the people in the African American neighborhood). Both will typically elect Democrats, just different Democrats.
Noo lmao that's called packing this thread is dumb. When 90% or whatever of hispanics are in a single district that means that they only get one vote from that district. If they were spread around they'd account for say 30% of 3 different districts and if only 20% of the other voters vote with them then then they get a majority... 3 votes instead of 1. Research packing. There is NO beneficial gerrymandering. It's always gonna be titled toward whoever draws the districts, republican or democrat.
Does this ring a bell for anyone else in Wisconsin???
So basically our votes still don't matter, another reason for me and others to never vote. Thanks America you really have proven to be corrupt to the very core.
Not voting is never the answer. It functions as a vote fir the one you want the least.
Trent Morgan I hear you Trent. To the others, you choose to participate in a corrupted system, we refuse to. Politicians in general are only looking out for themselves and the people who make them wealthy. Gerrymandering is just one of the ways they maintain power. Ask yourself, why does it cost so much to run a campaign? Consider the possibility that making it so that only the wealthy can run, means that only the wealthy can get elected. Its difficult, if not impossible, to beat someone at any game where you have rules and they don't
I feel your frustration, but not voting is being complacent and allowing it to happen. I know it feels impossible, but you may even attempt to run yourself or find someone with whom you share common values. You can start a movement. I am seeing more and more citizens in my area running for these offices and doing quite well. Start small, local municipality, then state, and then General (Federal). You cannot begin to walk unless you place one foot in front of the other.
"If voting changed anything, it would be made illegal." - Emma Goldman
Exactly you can vote to stop Gerrymandering........................... possibly.
You do speak true Trevor
yes im early!
Fax, no one talks about this nearly enough
500th viewer
Arny Boy 😂😹🤡🎭🤡🃏😂😹😂
Best Segment So Far. Trevor Noah is really coming into his own...Gerrymandering is the biggest issue in America's Voting system by far. -John Stewart is in His cottage with Corbét sipping Hot Eagle Blood Tea As a proud Dad Today.
A more in depth take on the topic by John Oliver:
th-cam.com/video/A-4dIImaodQ/w-d-xo.html
I admit that Trevor improved on the dick joke, though...
Trevor’s Mickey is amazing. 😂
Dude, you're on fire today.
Most don't understand what Gerrymandering is. It's hard to NOT see that now...thanks for educating us with humor. The truth always makes us laugh, and pictures ARE worth a thousand words.
Damn!!! The fact that this has been going on so long is so sad. Hopefully this gets fixed.
This is just one reason why we need another Constitutional Convention...and soon!!! IF we still value this thing we call Democracy! Need to reign this problem in with a new Amendment. While we're at it we can add an Amendment that mandates public (NOT PRIVATE) funding of our elections!
His impressions are always great, but his Mickey Mouse, too damn funny!
It's the only way Republicans can win with out it they don't have a prayer.
Sad but true!
Well in fact that Roomba thing sounds fantastic!
I see I'm not the first to say that John Oliver already did a piece on gerrymandering. Used some of the same footage, too. Oh, and by the way, the "earmuff district" was made that way because it consists of mostly Hispanic families, and the area in between the ends is primarily African-American. That was just them making sure their needs were met.
how the fuck is USA still standing?? i will never understand USA
Nobody explained gerrymandering better than trevor!
Must have been some amazing weed to last into taping. Lols
Thank you Trevor for highlighting this seriously important issue. But now I cannot unsee the Goofy-kicking-Donald congressional district. :p