Very cleverly that map in the first panel is the original Gerrymander cartoon!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering#/media/File:The_Gerry-Mander_Edit.png
Should put him out of a job. Establish an independent election commission that determines voting districts on population and geographical factors (rivers, mountains, highways, etc) alone. Publicly financed with professionals to determine registration and election administration. Make voting mandatory (all laws affect all people right?) and establish voting sessions on the weekend. And that’s just a start. Stop letting the officials pick their voters.
Actually once you open that can of worms, a whole bunch of interesting things pop out. The state borders no longer reflect how people relate to each other as just one example.
For decades and decades, gerrymandering was done to maintain safe legislative seats, especially for the incumbents — of both parties. Over time, this led to increasing extremism on both sides and, especially, a loss of accountability.
With the 2000 census, Republicans saw and seized the opportunity to pour money into state legislature races and using that power to gerrymander districts in order to shut Democrats out as much as possible. It worked.
Republicans, being as gracious winners as they are losers, use that power to ram through laws without debate and without any Democratic participation at all.
Republicans believe this to be the natural order of things.
Thirdbase over 7 years ago
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fourth-district-of-illinois-map1.jpg
And yes that little connecting strip is down the median of an Interstate Highway.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member over 7 years ago
Very cleverly that map in the first panel is the original Gerrymander cartoon!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering#/media/File:The_Gerry-Mander_Edit.png
Darsan54 Premium Member over 7 years ago
Should put him out of a job. Establish an independent election commission that determines voting districts on population and geographical factors (rivers, mountains, highways, etc) alone. Publicly financed with professionals to determine registration and election administration. Make voting mandatory (all laws affect all people right?) and establish voting sessions on the weekend. And that’s just a start. Stop letting the officials pick their voters.
WestNYC Premium Member over 7 years ago
Elbridge Gerry is loved by the party in majority and hated by the minority party. Democrat/Republican, its all the same.
braindead Premium Member over 7 years ago
One of the things the cartoon does not show is that the drawing of the lines is always done behind closed doors.
Bruce1253 over 7 years ago
Actually once you open that can of worms, a whole bunch of interesting things pop out. The state borders no longer reflect how people relate to each other as just one example.
braindead Premium Member over 7 years ago
For decades and decades, gerrymandering was done to maintain safe legislative seats, especially for the incumbents — of both parties. Over time, this led to increasing extremism on both sides and, especially, a loss of accountability.
With the 2000 census, Republicans saw and seized the opportunity to pour money into state legislature races and using that power to gerrymander districts in order to shut Democrats out as much as possible. It worked.
Republicans, being as gracious winners as they are losers, use that power to ram through laws without debate and without any Democratic participation at all.
Republicans believe this to be the natural order of things.
Four legs good; two legs better.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 7 years ago
Monopoly is better for the Reich Wingers than Duopoly. We lose in the mean time.