This is the FCB podcast Network. This is pillow Talk with Ali Michelle on the podcast Network. Okay, hi, welcome back to another episode of pillow Talk with Ali Michelle. I am your host, Ali Michelle. Today's topic is we're going to dive into when politics start redrawing the map instead of winning votes. Again, this is just my opinion, you guys. I know everybody has different different takes, different feelings, but this is just mine. Okay, sorry, all right, let's talk for a minute because I keep seeing headlines, comments and political chatter saying things like Democrats are trying to break the Republicans supermajority in all hioh And depending on who you are, that sentence either makes you cheer or makes you mad, or makes you scroll right past it. There's no in between. But almost nobody is explaining how they're planning to do it. And that's the part that actually, in my opinion, really matters because when you really understand it, you realize this isn't just politics. This is more about power again, depending on what side you're on, and more importantly, who actually gets a voice in this state. That's that's the big question here. So let me say this first and clearly this is not to bash one party only, okay, because if you've been alive long enough, you've already you already know this truth. Both parties play the same games when they're in power. They just like to change the wording up. One side calls it fair map, the other cause it protecting voters. But at the end of the day, the chessboard looks the same again, in my opinion, So what's really going on in Ohio right now? They're talking about breaking the supermajority not tomorrow, not this election cycle, but down the road, and that that should tell you something. Your little light bulb should be going off. They're not talking about persuasion. They are talking about structure. So here's the part that most people don't learn in school. And I've taken the liberty to kind of do my own research for y'all. Every ten years after the census, district lines get redrawn. The lines determine who votes together, which neighborhoods get grouped, and which party has an advantage. And these lines can absolutely decide elections before a single vote is even cast. That's not an opinion that that's actually Matthew. Guys, you can take a conservative neighborhood, combine it with three liberal ones, and suddenly that conservative area has zero political voice. Same people, same voters, different lines, different outcomes. So when politicians talk about quote changing districts unquote, they're not talking about changing people's minds. They're talking about moving the pieces on the board. And why are people angry? This is where people get frustrated on both sides because voters start asking, well, if my vote matters, why does it keep getting diluted. If you're a parent, think about it like this. Imagine your kid wins a game fairly. Instead of saying, okay, you played better, you say, actually, let's change the rules. That doesn't feel like fairness to me. That feels like control. And that's why you read districting redistricting. Redistricting. Sorry, makes people uneasy, even people who normally don't care about politics, because it feels sneaky. It feels sneaky now to be fair, and yes, we're being fair here. I know, I know how they're a conservative do such a thing. Supporters are re supporters of redistricting redistricting. I cannot My tongue is just not rolling today. Redistrict reform argue something important. They say, you know, some districts are unfairly drawn, some maps protect incumbinance, and some voters don't feel represented. And they're not wrong. Those problems exist. But here's where people start raising their eyebrows. When the solution suddenly sounds like, let's redraw everything so we can gain seats. That's when the public stops trusting the process. And let's be frank, people are distrusting this process already because fixing fairness shouldn't come with a political school board attached. Actually, I'm sorry, a political score board attached. Fair should be fair even if you lose. Let's not be sore losers. We are grown adults, okay. We learn to accept a win or a lose in grade school. You know. That's the part that politicians really say out loud, to be honest. And I know some and some are awesome, and some take their take their loss and they move on or some don't. So uh, the bigger pick, The bigger issue is trust. And to me, this is the real problem. Americans don't trust institutions anymore. I mean, can we blame them? Can we blame each other? I don't think so. Not because people are dumb, though, but because they've watched the rules change mid game too many times. I'm not gonna I wasn't gonna say it, but I'm gonna say. You know, when they just decided they're gonna have Kamala going no vote, just just just totally disregarded the rules. Okay, So when voters feel like outcomes are engineered instead of earned, they disengage, They stop voting, they stop believing, they stop caring. And that's dangerous no matter what party you belong to, because democracy doesn't collapse overnight. It erodes quietly through confusion, through through sneaky actions and quite frankly not trans and the politicians not being transparent. And then you start hearing people say, well, what's the point. My vote doesn't matter, what's the point. So here it is as a mom. As a mom, this hits differently for me because I'm trying to raise kids who understand accountability. You don't get a trophy just because you're upset. Okay, you don't rewrite the rules because you didn't like the result. You learn, you adapt, you do better next time. That's how real life works, and politics shouldn't be any different. Okay, we shouldn't allow this to happen. We listen. I know some people agree with it, and I know it could be beneficial for some groups. It could be beneficial for different areas in Ohio. I understand it. But to do it in such a way of like planning years and years and years in advance to Don't get me wrong, if you're a chess player, heck, yeah, that's a great move, let's do it. But it's not fair. It's truly not fair. Unless you can figure out it to be completely fair through transparency, then I can get behind you. But until I see that, I just, I just I don't really like it. Again, that's my opinion. So when you hear phrases quote breaking the supermajority, reshaping districts, correcting the balance of power, don't just snide your head. Just ask the questions. Do your research, just as I did. I continue to research, even in my opinion might change with this in a few years, but for right now, this is where I stand. So you ask, well, who benefits, who decides, and who loses their voice? Because voters are supposed to choose their leaders, leaders aren't are not supposed to choose their voters. Again, because voters are supposed to choose their leaders. Leaders are not supposed to choose their voters. And if we lose that principle, we lose something much bigger than an election. And that is my thoughts on this, on this situation here, because I just, I truly it's hard for me to really really you know, back this up again. It could change. My opinions could change later on if I'm seeing a map and you know, different opinions are coming my way. And it makes sense mathematically, and it makes sense vocally, and it makes sense for every single group in Ohio because we are such a diverse state and we you know, we are one of the leaders in the voting, in the voting career like for lack of terms, you know, we we just we need a way, We need a way to make a fair And yes, as much as people don't don't believe it, your vote does matter. Your voice matters. I started zero nowhere on social media. Now. I was just expressing my thoughts, expressing my feelings, and it led me to you, and it led me to such great opportunities where I am not afraid to ask questions, I'm not afraid to talk to politicians. I'm not afraid to talk to lawmakers. I'm not afraid to talk. I'm not afraid to talk to you. We are the we the people. We the people make the decisions. I know, like politics has blown up, you know, these past few years, which I'm glad because you should know who was in your house. You should know who is your cleaning crew. You should know who is making who is paying the bills. You should know all this. And to me, it's intriguing to be in such a time where even the younger generation or asking questions like it's it's truly and I'm fresh meat in this game. I'm so fresh meat. I'm a thirty two year old mom and I you know this is I want to know who's in my house. I want to know who's using my oven, who's moving these toys around? I want to know? And if I ask you, I want the truth because we don't lie in this house. Think as think of the United States or your states, or your city, your town as your house. Who is in charge? Who do you ask? Like? Who do you talk to? You need to investigate your town. And if you don't like the district, change the red you know, the redrawing of the lines, ask the questions and make your voice heard. Go to social media, call your lawmakers, call your statesmen, call these people that know the answers, and demand the truth. Because it's a simple Google search. And then it's a simple uh ask a different opinion, like go to a different source and and ask them and see what matches and what doesn't. Typically, you know, if something doesn't vibe, something's wrong, something doesn't look right, doesn't smile right, it's not right. Okay, And with that, I'm gonna let y'all go. It was nice talking to you. I can't wait to talk to you guys on the next one. Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, your family, your haters, your lovers. I have a couple of guests. Frind up, I'm so excited. Twenty twenty six is gonna be the year. It's gonna be the year of great things. Make sure you manifest that. And I made a vision board this year, so I'm gonna maybe i'll make a podcast about that. I think it's really cool. I've never done it before, but I will talk to you guys on the next one. Don't for don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, and please follow me on social media. My accounts are again under attack. I don't know why, they just don't. Algorithm just takes girls. So TikTok at Ali underscore Michelle and that is with two eyes. Ali underscore Michelle. Instagram ALII underscore Michelle twelve again. I won't go in your messages asking you for money, nothing like that. So if you get that that happens a lot, don't accept it. Don't send money. I won't personally ask you for money, and watch out for the fake account. So I will see you guys on the next one. Bye.
