It's a coincidence, perhaps, but the vicious laws undermining democracy, a woman's control over her own body and the social compact in Texas are among 666 laws taking force there this month.
The underlying problem is nation-wide. Gerrymandering districts silences majorities, while primaries for uncompetitive seats become competitions in extremism even within the minority... The threat of being "primaried" lets the fringes determine the agenda of the party. Why did we think democracy, in its American form, was a good thing?
There are alternatives and solutions. As a Californian I'm proud of the way the primary system there has been restructured to select for consensus candidates with appeal across the electorate. But California has its own problems, witness the gubernatorial recall effort.
But for now my heart goes out to the women of Texas, and the many other states whose Republican leadership have promised copy-cat bills, marked out as opportunities for bounty-hunting vigilantes.
