Sunday, December 10, 2023

United States political map by population

One of the favorite talking points of the right wing is a political map which shows cities as little islands of blue surrounded by a sea of red, the blue representing Democratic, relatively liberal affiliation, and the red representing Republican, so-called "conservative" affiliation.  But there's a problem.  According to the census, 48% of US land area is empty. This map corrects for that.  Of course, as this map was created in 2016, the picture will change.  


 https://carto.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8732c91ba7a14d818cd26b776250d2c3


A similar map for 2020 is here: 

https://carto.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ef4a986a1caa429ea3b46fffe323c8e3


In 2023, 3/4 of new voters identify as Democrats.  Because of that, this map has gotten bluer.  Given the antics of the Republican Party over the past decade, that trend is likely to maintain.  


Thursday, November 16, 2023

Israel in Florida terms

My fellow Floridians.  I would like to explain Israel and Gaza in terms most Floridians can understand.  


First, Israel.  


Look at a map of Florida.  Look at the Gulf coast.  Now take a section of the Gulf coast that includes these counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist, and the western fifth of Marion.  Now into that area put 2/5 the population of Florida with 1/3 the GDP.  That's Israel.  


Now consider again Pinellas County.  Draw a line up the map from the Skyway north along the eastern shore of Lake Tarpon to the county line.  Look at the land area to the west of that line.  Into that area put 2.5 times the population of the county with half the GDP.  That's Gaza.  


This is the area around which the United States is bending our entire foreign policy.