Why is every heatmap of the US just an election map?
this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026
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Because in the hands of evildoers, maps are tools of control.
But for us regular folk they’re also lovely founts of knowledge and occasionally works of great art to boot.
It used to be a lot lower before passports were required to enter Mexico and Canada.
People from rural center states only see people like themselves and become xenophobic. People from coastal and metropolitan areas see all kinds of people and embrace them all. This doesn't explain everything but it's a decent start.
Or consider this map as comparison. Acquiring a $200 passport to go on a $2,000 per person international trip is a splurge for the average American.
Yes it's the church; lots of missionaries go international. Most lds teens get the document ahead of their call. And more will vacation abroad if a parent has an international mission.
Indeed, it is a good start. And how would people see those who don’t physically live near them? Is there some sort of magic psychic telepathy they could avail themselves of to better understand one another?
Edit: sorry for those who see this as confusing or impenetrable: I’m saying the corporate media have this role and do it poorly.
That's a bit of an oversimplification. The same corporate media functions in blue states - it's not like the red states don't have access to better sources. These places have the internet and libraries as well. Corporate media sucks, yes, but the blame in these deep red states lies with an active culture that intentionally discourages curiosity and acceptance, and builds that xenophobia and paranoia. It's not a philosophy they get FORCED on them - it's one they nurture through their education systems and local cultures.
They're not, as subcultures, innocent victims of a media machine.
I think we’re probably saying the same thing, just in reverse order.
Nothing will make me laugh harder than if the republicans ditch the filibuster to pass the SAVE act and fuck themselves over because all their voters are poor dipshits who never leave the country so they don't have passports and can't readily prove their citizenship.
Not only that, in their attempt at misinformation they are lying to their ignorant voter base and saying that all you need is an ID to vote. I imagine there will be a lot of republican voters showing up to the polls and getting turned away extremely confused why their ID wasn't enough to vote. My parents still had my birth certificate and my MAGA dad was very confused when I said I needed it before the election.
Kinda looks like these magat losers are screwing themselves
In my country a passport is mandatory to survive. You can't get a job without one. But it is free (unless you damage it and request for replacement. In this case 10 bucks or something).
The USA as always does everything in its completely crazy way.
Wild that Michigan is so low unless it's just because of those IDs that let you into bordering countries if you live in a border state
Yeah Michigan has the enhanced licenses so a lot of people just get that for travel to Canada and don't bother with a passport. I imagine any state with a similar system has the same distortion.
Idk it looks like some other enhanced ID states have really high rates like WA, CA, and NY
Can confirm, have enhanced WA license and it can get me over land borders without a passport. However, I also have a passport on top of it.
My passport expired in 2016. Do I have to renew it? I don't want to deal with this administration and my birthplace doesn't change because of the expiration.
I respect not wanting to deal with this administration, but also, this administration does not seem like a good one not to have a passport under.
This. It’s a huge hassle, but have a valid passport. Just - just do.
That depends. Do you have a real ID drivers license? Do you plan on traveling abroad any time in the next decade? I assume not if you haven’t in the past 10, but it’s worth asking. It also matters what state you reside in.
If you're cis it's probably a good idea, definitely check how long you can renew a passport. A passport is just generally a really good thing to have