Thread: Ohio: Let the gerrymandering begin

When I posted on this at least 6 months ago, the only reaction I got from folks here was (and I quote) *YAWN*

NOW... you want to talk about it.

Originally Posted by Unique POV

I totally agree! This redistricting by the prevailing party every few years, for the completely transparent purpose of giving them an advantage in the next election, is completely CROOKED and UNDERHANDED when EITHER side does it.

So... you want to also get rid of the Civil Rights Act required 'minority majority' rules? That's fine with me... but a lot of folks would be very pissed off. Fully 3/4 of the CBC hold 'minority majority' seats.

You also might want to tread a little lightly here as the gay community has it's eyes set on a 'gay district' after 2020.

Originally Posted by Unique POV

What's worse is that now they are starting to play with the electoral college as well (which also needs to just go completely away.) A few states are looking to ditch their winner take all systems in favor of distributing votes by the congressional districts... which of course have already been gerrymandered by the prevailing parties.

Well... that's a thing now, isn't it? I'm in favor of keeping the college for a whole host of reasons, but if PA approves their plan... and with no change in the vote totals from 2008... in 2012 Obama loses the election.

Originally Posted by tsquare

So... you want to also get rid of the Civil Rights Act required 'minority majority' rules? That's fine with me... but a lot of folks would be very pissed off. Fully 3/4 of the CBC hold 'minority majority' seats.

I would wholeheartedly support that. One of the reasons why it was enacted to begin with was because many states used the gerrymander process to enact racist ideology to ensure blacks weren't represented. If politics was taken out of the electoral boundary discussion, then it would be the voters who decide who is elected.

I think race is one of those things that isn't allowed to be discussed in politics, but one can only wonder who white's won't elect blacks, and why a white person has no chance in a predominantly black district. Despite political correctness I believe race is very much a sub-current issues in US politics.

A gay district? I'd love to see a link to evidence of that. Besides, why would gay people want a specific district when we already have Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Herb Kohl, Lindsey Graham and Aaron Schock in Congress?

It's better to have a nonpartisan commission do it, but as long as the districts are blocks and not twisty little lines I'm happy. You'll never avoid the temptation for the majority party to take some liberties, but as long as it's not obvious it's the best we can hope for.

In states where they have lost representatives, that's where the losing party is really going to get nailed though. As happened in Ohio.