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Kasz216 on 07 October 2013
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Tigerlure said:
noname2200 said:
Mythmaker1 said:


At this point, it might be time for the US to reconsider the congressional structure. Perhaps fewer representatives, longer terms, and more clear-cut rules. And maybe some work on the Constitution while they're at it.

I'm inclined to think eliminating gerrymandering would solve much of our problems.


Agreed, but Republicans would never agree to that. It's what helped them keep a good amount of seats in the House, even though Democrats had more votes than them.

Eh,  Democrats Gerrymand just as much as Republicans do.  At least when they control the local machinery.  See Illnois for example. 

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0608/Democrats-revenge-in-2012-a-radical-Illinois-gerrymander

 Or Florida... http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/03/insider-emails-show-fl-democrats-tried-to-gerrymander-redistricting-just-like-gop.html

 

Back before this whole shutdown, NPR had quite a few good shows on gerrymandering, oh probably about 6  months ago.

People just don't make as big a deal about it, because of who the voters in both parties are.

diluting the power of a bunch of poor white rural dudes doesn't really have the same national bite as say putting a large amount of hispanic people in one hispanic disctric.

 

Outside which, i feel gerrymandering is greatly overstated.

Ihttp://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/07/no-gerrymandering-not-destroying-democracy/67730/

 

Neighborhoods themselves are being more poralized before gerrymandering ever even happens.  Additionally, in some ways doesn't gerrymandering... make sense if it's done in specific ways.

 

I mean these districts are mostly just used to decide who represents them politically.  So if you arrange it so that everyone who agrees politically is in the same distirct... that seems like a GOOD thing.

 

I mean seriousky,   does it make more sense to have. two 90% districts one Republican and one Democrat, where 90% of the people are going to be happy about the guys they vote for?   Or two 50% districts where half the people are going to be pissed about their poltician at any time and feel they aren't represented?

I mean quite honestly, I live in a "moderate" district that has a lot of republicans and a lot of democrats... and it's a pain in the fucking ass.  As you never know what someones going to complain about politics wise and always have to be ready for people to get into full out shouting matches for no good reason.