#''hetalia-style caricatures'' are not good when it comes to countries either for exactly the same reasons

[gynoidgearhead]

[Image caption for first post: a series of electoral maps, first showing the states in the contiguous US by percentage of votes for each candidate; then showing all counties in the contiguous US shaded by quantity (white versus shaded) and skew (hue) of votes; then a representation with dots placed approximately showing where each vote was cast geographically, resulting in a map full of blue, red, and purple blotches and lines tracing the country. End caption.]

A reminder that first past the post, winner take all, red/blue electoral college maps promote political tribalism and encourage gross stereotyping. It turns the political process into a game to be won or lost, a sport with teams where the goal is the beat the other side. It erodes nuance, destroys bipartisanship, and crushes third party thought.

More Trump voters live in California than Texas. More Biden voters live in Texas than New York. No political candidate ever carries a state with even 70% of the vote.

Election maps like these move us closer to the truth.

Remember that the loudest, most extreme voices may make the best TV and the most viral videos- but they aren't the reality of your neighbors. Or of mine.