Why do states with Democratic majorities fail to live up to their values?
What's the matter with Washington? |
No, not that one. The other one. I mean the state of Washington, home of the Mariners and Microsoft and Mount St. Helens. |
More than 40 percent of Americans live in states, including Washington, where Democrats have the power to pass whatever laws they care to pass — to carry out policy without regard to Republican opposition. |
But the laws in those states often don't look much like the Democratic Party's campaign platforms. In Washington, for example, the distribution of state and local taxation is more regressive than in any other state. Not even Texas, which sits in second place, taxes the poor at such disproportionately punitive rates. |
It is in blue states that affordable housing is generally hardest to find, that disparities in education funding yawn widest — and that economic inequality is increasing most rapidly. |
In a short video we published today, I join the video journalist Johnny Harris to highlight some of the ways in which Washington, Illinois, Connecticut and other blue states are failing to live up to their values. |
For liberals frustrated that the Biden administration's social spending bill is stalled in the Senate, or fearful that Democrats will lose control of Congress next year, it is a reminder that there are other arenas. In areas like housing and education, state and local policies are more important than federal policies. |
It's also a video we hope will prompt many who watch to take a long look in the mirror. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
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