For those interested in US public opinion on abortion, here's the Gallup summary: https://news.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx Note that a very large majority wants at least some restrictions… (View Post)

On initiatives, referendums, and legislatures. Washington state, where I live, has all three, and the first two tend to result in different outcomes on some subjects than the third. Example: Our legi… (View Post)

SeaShantyIrish - Since you asked, Minnesota's Jesse Ventura and Washington state's own Dixie Lee Ray. There are other unusual governors since World War II, but those are the first that come… (View Post)

Speaking of Louisiana and New Orleans, here's a fact that probably hasn't reached the Guardian. After the Katrina hurricane, Louisiana elected a former Bush official, governor: Bobby Jindal… (View Post)

Foxy's suggestion for electing Lords from local governments reminds me of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Cons… (View Post)