2010 Back room dealing accelerates 1910 politics
Ohio population increased the last decade yet, Ohio loses TWO Congressional Districts - Texas Gains 4 Congressional Districts ??? Why does Texas growth trump Ohio's?
How much longer will this errant 100 year old Congressional District mapping go on?
More Districts. More Representation. End political stranglehold on the citizens.
The Constitution was framed upon the theory that the people must sink or swim together, and that prosperity and salvation are in union. Benjamin Nathan Cardozo
Showing posts with label Increase Representation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Increase Representation. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Why is Congress so doggone political?
Item from the Houston Chronicle by Bill King has some of the answers to that question.
King: Gerrymandering to blame for polarizing Congress
My viewpoint is pretty much the same as it has been all along, gerrymandering would be OK if more political ideologies were represented and USA had more Congressional Districts to accommodate the vast assortment of ideologies. Bill King makes some really good points about the results we are all living with these days and he did something I never thought about doing before, he looked up some Primary voting history from gerrymandered districts.
He touches on the problem of being an independent voter and not being allowed to vote in your state primary. And therein lies another problem he did not write about: independent voters are actually part of the problem because we never hear from these voters when it really matters - at the Primary level.
Item from the Houston Chronicle by Bill King has some of the answers to that question.
King: Gerrymandering to blame for polarizing Congress
My viewpoint is pretty much the same as it has been all along, gerrymandering would be OK if more political ideologies were represented and USA had more Congressional Districts to accommodate the vast assortment of ideologies. Bill King makes some really good points about the results we are all living with these days and he did something I never thought about doing before, he looked up some Primary voting history from gerrymandered districts.
He touches on the problem of being an independent voter and not being allowed to vote in your state primary. And therein lies another problem he did not write about: independent voters are actually part of the problem because we never hear from these voters when it really matters - at the Primary level.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Less gerrymandering + more Representatives = better government?
Miller-McCune Online February 23, 2010
by Emily Badger Do gerrymanders come in shades of red and blue
Scholars assess whether the widely accepted notion that the current political polarization in the U.S. is due in part to ’safe’ political districts is accurate.
Miller-McCune Online September 17, 2009
by Lee Drutman Is the House of Representatives too small?
The U.S. House of Representatives has been at 435 members since 1911, when the country was a third of its current population. Research suggests that districts may now be getting too big for adequate representation.
Miller-McCune Online February 23, 2010
by Emily Badger Do gerrymanders come in shades of red and blue
Scholars assess whether the widely accepted notion that the current political polarization in the U.S. is due in part to ’safe’ political districts is accurate.
Miller-McCune Online September 17, 2009
by Lee Drutman Is the House of Representatives too small?
The U.S. House of Representatives has been at 435 members since 1911, when the country was a third of its current population. Research suggests that districts may now be getting too big for adequate representation.
Unique Last Chance?
IOWA
Chicago Tribune July 11, 2010
Lawmakers launch unique redistricting [that most Iowans ratify]
by Mike Glover
In Iowa, the issue is settled by the Legislative Services Agency, a nonpartisan group of lawyers and economists who draft bills, offer financial projections and give other technical advice to the Legislature. And they don't talk publicly about their recommendations.
Virginia
Richmond Times Dispatch July 11, 2010 Last Chance
Staff Reports writes:
Although the history of these exercises almost compels cynicism, as noted above, we are not ready to raise the white flag. With gusto we embrace the efforts of the Virginia Redistricting Coalition, whose members include numerous distinguished individuals from inside professional politics....
IOWA
Chicago Tribune July 11, 2010
Lawmakers launch unique redistricting [that most Iowans ratify]
by Mike Glover
In Iowa, the issue is settled by the Legislative Services Agency, a nonpartisan group of lawyers and economists who draft bills, offer financial projections and give other technical advice to the Legislature. And they don't talk publicly about their recommendations.
Virginia
Richmond Times Dispatch July 11, 2010 Last Chance
Staff Reports writes:
Although the history of these exercises almost compels cynicism, as noted above, we are not ready to raise the white flag. With gusto we embrace the efforts of the Virginia Redistricting Coalition, whose members include numerous distinguished individuals from inside professional politics....
July 4th passes & still no redistricting reform; Aug. 4th deadline looms
Ohio
Ohio Legislators went back to their (probably) gerrymandered districts without passing necessary redistricting reform legislation. They have until August 4th, to pass a redistricting reform bill. But, they have to return to work. Ohio Impact - Political Accountability for Citizens Today has links to more information and recent headlines.
Wisconsin
In this opinion item posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the authors write :
As the charcoals cool and the fireworks fade after another Independence Day celebration of our ideals of freedom and equality, a specter remains: the gerrymander, poised to deny voters an equal voice in their elections for yet another decade.
read more by Krist Novoselic and Rob Richie
Redistricting need not be political blood sport
Florida
Fair Districts Florida.org listed as the Sponsor of Amendments 5 and 6 on the Florida 2010 General Election ballot had to be pleased their proposed amendment survived another court challenge.
Judge tosses out Legislature's bid on redistricting
July 7, 2010 Miami Herald by By Marc Caputo and Lee Logan wrote:
....Critics of Florida's system point out that Republicans control almost two-thirds of the Legislature and three-fifths of U.S. House seats, but registered Republicans are about 36 percent of the electorate.
National
Next is another opinion item by Michael McDonald and Micah Altman posted on the Washington Post July 9, 2010.
In Pulling back the curtain on redistricting
Ohio
Ohio Legislators went back to their (probably) gerrymandered districts without passing necessary redistricting reform legislation. They have until August 4th, to pass a redistricting reform bill. But, they have to return to work. Ohio Impact - Political Accountability for Citizens Today has links to more information and recent headlines.
Wisconsin
In this opinion item posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the authors write :
As the charcoals cool and the fireworks fade after another Independence Day celebration of our ideals of freedom and equality, a specter remains: the gerrymander, poised to deny voters an equal voice in their elections for yet another decade.
read more by Krist Novoselic and Rob Richie
Redistricting need not be political blood sport
Florida
Fair Districts Florida.org listed as the Sponsor of Amendments 5 and 6 on the Florida 2010 General Election ballot had to be pleased their proposed amendment survived another court challenge.
Judge tosses out Legislature's bid on redistricting
July 7, 2010 Miami Herald by By Marc Caputo and Lee Logan wrote:
....Critics of Florida's system point out that Republicans control almost two-thirds of the Legislature and three-fifths of U.S. House seats, but registered Republicans are about 36 percent of the electorate.
National
Next is another opinion item by Michael McDonald and Micah Altman posted on the Washington Post July 9, 2010.
In Pulling back the curtain on redistricting
Monday, March 15, 2010
Calling David Boies
In my view the "problem" with gerrymandering is only two political parties and one race participate in the scheme. If you don't have a D or R after your name you don't have a guy at the drawing board to mark out a district for your ideological point of view or ethnicity.
In a democratic America we would have (at least) as many congressional districts as there are counties - 3140. And those 3140 congressional districts could be built up out of voter registration party preferences. I don't even mind having districts based on race. As long as we all get to vote for someone who represents our ideology.
I live in a gerrymandered (R) district, I’m a D and my vote is very effectively sealed off from the Democratic Party in my state because of the gerrymandering.
The solution is to make districts 100% R, D, and whatever else. Even the conservatives could have their own congressional districts. A blend of GPS technology with specific location information and detailed voter registration rolls would make specific districting possible. From my local precinct I could vote for local issues and candidates, statewide issues, and national candidates on a personalized ballot.
The way it is now my right to have my vote count doesn’t even exist. Yes, I can vote, but my vote does not count because that fundamental part of my right to vote was bartered away in a back room deal between the Rs and Ds here in Ohio.
The conduct of the elected beneficiaries of our Constitution is rotten with corruption.
In my view the "problem" with gerrymandering is only two political parties and one race participate in the scheme. If you don't have a D or R after your name you don't have a guy at the drawing board to mark out a district for your ideological point of view or ethnicity.
In a democratic America we would have (at least) as many congressional districts as there are counties - 3140. And those 3140 congressional districts could be built up out of voter registration party preferences. I don't even mind having districts based on race. As long as we all get to vote for someone who represents our ideology.
I live in a gerrymandered (R) district, I’m a D and my vote is very effectively sealed off from the Democratic Party in my state because of the gerrymandering.
The solution is to make districts 100% R, D, and whatever else. Even the conservatives could have their own congressional districts. A blend of GPS technology with specific location information and detailed voter registration rolls would make specific districting possible. From my local precinct I could vote for local issues and candidates, statewide issues, and national candidates on a personalized ballot.
The way it is now my right to have my vote count doesn’t even exist. Yes, I can vote, but my vote does not count because that fundamental part of my right to vote was bartered away in a back room deal between the Rs and Ds here in Ohio.
The conduct of the elected beneficiaries of our Constitution is rotten with corruption.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
More Congressional Districts Would Improve USA
On Aug 31, 2006 I wrote that America needed to apportion more Congressional Districts and offered my reasons.
Today, October 7, 2009 it nearly floored me to see Jonah Goldberg write about the same subject and outline the reasons America would be better off with more Congressional Districts.
read: More lawmakers? Don't laugh, we'd be better off
Links to Mississippi lawsuit info
Peter Baker New York Times Sept. 17, 2009
Parties involved Justia Federal District Court Filings and Dockets
LexisNexus
Today, October 7, 2009 it nearly floored me to see Jonah Goldberg write about the same subject and outline the reasons America would be better off with more Congressional Districts.
read: More lawmakers? Don't laugh, we'd be better off
Links to Mississippi lawsuit info
Peter Baker New York Times Sept. 17, 2009
Parties involved Justia Federal District Court Filings and Dockets
LexisNexus
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- It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters........ it's the size of the fight in the dog that determines the winner. Mark Twain