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Home » Controversial Topics » Politics » Should the House of Representatives reflect demographics of the population
Should the House of Representatives reflect demographics of the population
| February 13th, 2017 at 3:34:01 AM permalink | |
| Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | Out of 435 members of the House of Representatives (2 year terms) the current congress (115th) is the most diverse in history. 12 Asians 34 Latinos 47 African Americans (+ Virgin Islands) 84 Women Out of the four groups, only African Americans is close to the actual population percentage. Roughly 30 black men served in the 41st to 56th congress after the civil war an in the 19th century. All were Republicans. The first Republican black congressmen was elected in the 71st congress in late 1920s in Chicago's 1st district, and the first Black majority district. After six years he was replaced with a black Democrat elected in 1934 and the seat has been held by a black Democrat ever since. The current House has 45 black Democrats, 2 black Republicans, 1 black Democrat from Virgin Islands, and 3 black Senators. Of the 32 congressional districts where African Americans are 38%-67% of the population, 31 have black Congressman (with district around Memphis the notable exception). Mia Love, a black female Republican Representatives in a district of Utah which is less than 2% black is the most prominent demographic oddity Asians and Latinos are represented at about half their percentage of the general population. Women at less than 20%. Is this under - representation a problem? |
| February 13th, 2017 at 3:54:06 AM permalink | |
| Fleastiff Member since: Oct 27, 2012 Threads: 62 Posts: 7831 | Is it a problem? Ask the voters. Sure there may be some gerrymandering issues in elections and some advantages to incumbents but overall tossing your hat into the ring is not a demographic issue. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 3:03:26 PM permalink | |
| AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18212 |
No. What are we supposed to have, quotas for representatives? The President is a fink. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 4:36:02 PM permalink | |
| buzzardknot Member since: Mar 16, 2015 Threads: 7 Posts: 497 | Are there any Native Americans is the House? There is 1 in the Senate. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 4:41:13 PM permalink | |
| AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18212 |
I think almost all members were born here. The President is a fink. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 4:54:16 PM permalink | |
| stinkingliberal Member since: Nov 9, 2016 Threads: 17 Posts: 731 | It's only an issue if you assume that only a Black, Latino representative can properly represent a primarily Black, Latino, etc. constituency. If we're to conform to the ideal of a non-racist society and country, we have to assume that that is not the case--that a duly elected representative can represent his/her constituency regardless of his/her or their race. I don't see what kind of "problem" this might be. Along with the disproportionate number of male ("should" be slightly less than half) representatives, I think it's a manifestation of a societal condition--until quite recently, only white males ran for office. First, it was because the idea of a nonwhite person and/or a woman holding high office was simply unthinkable. Then, such a candidate was considered unelectable by the respective parties. Neither of those things are the case today, but we haven't evolved far enough beyond that so that things have evened out. It's like the number of, say, Black and/or female doctors, lawyers, or CEOs. Disproportionately small still, but evening out. We also have to consider the recent election. It was in many ways the dying gasp of white supremacy. The nasty old white farts aren't going down without a fight. You have to realize, the idea of this country not being run completely and totally by white males fills a lot of folks with shattering, existential horror. That has slowed down the equalization of political representation in this country. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 4:54:22 PM permalink | |
| buzzardknot Member since: Mar 16, 2015 Threads: 7 Posts: 497 | 2 NA in House, both from Oklahoma. 1 NA in Senate, from Massachusetts. |
| February 13th, 2017 at 10:35:09 PM permalink | |
| stinkingliberal Member since: Nov 9, 2016 Threads: 17 Posts: 731 |
Lemme guess. Yet another iteration of the extremely tired Pocohontas "joke." My senile old uncle Mikey used to tell the same joke about two plumbers and a toilet plunger every time he came to dinner. Like the Pocohontas "joke," it wasn't any funnier the 58th time he told it than the first time--and it wasn't funny then. If you don't like the uppity bitch Massachusetts senator, just say so. Women shouldn't be allowed to speak out, as per Mitch "The Pusbag" McConnell. |
| February 14th, 2017 at 6:05:38 AM permalink | |
| Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
Almost all scientists believe that there are no fundamental divisions in the human species. While an Englishman looks different than both an Italian and a Kenyan, from a scientific viewpoint it is meaningless to say that Italians and Englishman are 'ethnically' different and Kenyans and Englishman are 'racially' different. White people are really people with thin epidermis that exposes the white cells underneath that are common to all human beings.It was a trait that evolution favored in areas of the world where Vitamin D deficiency was common because of both the lack of sunlight and not enough fish in the diet. It also means that you are more likely to die from skin cancer, but since that happens after child bearing years that is not the concern of evolution.
But socially we still behave as if race is important. Of the 32 congressional districts with African American populations of 38% or more, only one is represented by a white person. Predominantly white districts, in many cases, do not have citizens who feel threatened by having their representative looking different than them. Mia Love is the only black person representing a district that is less than 2% black. |