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Thread: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

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    Default Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    The following article is primarily about the Democratic Party gerrymandering, with the tacit approval of some Republicans, the voting districts in California. There is also a brief mention of Republicans in Texas doing the same thing.

    http://www.jillstewart.net/php/issues/issue112504.php

    I don't know if there is an answer to this, other than placing a proposition on the ballot which would allow only one term for anyone running for state office, and then require you to return to your life as a private citizen. You would be permitted to hold only one office for one term, and never again run for any other political office within the state of California. While I don't like this myself as a possible solution, I don't know how you even get the attention o the California politicos anymore. Other than something similar to this metaphorical, "2x4."


    PhaedrusZ

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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    For decades people have been talking about having an independent commission of judges
    do the redistricting. It is especially important in California where the population has grown
    rapidly. The legislature has been closely divided between parties since the 1980s during
    the Willie Brown era. The article doesn't go back far enough. I think that in 1981 the
    voters by ballot initiative or referendum voted out Jerry Brown's gerrymander, only to have
    Gov. Brown sign pretty much the same redistricting all over again during his last days in
    office. Unfortunately, the Republicans did not control the Governorship in 2000 either.

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    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    To the victors go the spoils - the patronage jobs, the judicial appointments, and the districting.



    Later edit: I thought I should make the implication clearer: Generally, those who complain about gerrymandering today will be practicing it tomorrow.
    Last edited by Jay Zeno; 03-09-2005 at 03:36 PM.

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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    Sadly this is going on in a lot of states.

    Frankly, I think that we should completely do away with congressional districts and have each state use a proportional representation system. It would put an end to power plays like these. It would also give third party candidates a fighting chance.

    To me, congressional districts are about as logical as school districts. I've never quite understood why it was assumed that people would find a common voice or need based on their geography.
    Former SCJ now in rehab.

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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    I thought I should make the implication clearer: Generally, those who complain about gerrymandering today will be practicing it tomorrow.
    or ... those who are complaining about gerrymandering today are exactly the ones who had been practicing it themselves for the previous 50 years in other states !

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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    Both branches of the Establishment Party do it.

    I say abolish voting to begin with and let's not have any more political issues.

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    God/dess montythegeek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    I have maintained that the appropriate way to do it is to have a computer program redistrict from a set of rules designed in a ranking system which makes districts start from the corners of the state, be compact, keep other political districts like cities and towns together if at all possible, then precints together, and be of equal size. the rules should be specific enough that the program converges but not so specific that one side can control where districts are going to be in advance of the run. the prgram should be run every five years and noone can do didly to have the residence of a current office holder have any role in the choice. then the best two selections are submitted to the voters for a final choice.

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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Article re: gerrymandering voting districts in California.

    Actually monty, the technology already exists and has been used for a couple of decades.
    The Rose Institute of Claremont McKenna College in California, for example, has done extensive
    research and database development on redistricting.
    "Using computer technology, students and faculty in the Rose Institute advance knowledge about politics, and help create services that make the political process more democratic. Through the development of large computerized databases and advanced geographic retrieval systems, students become involved in projects focusing on such topics as redistricting, fiscal analysis, California demographics, survey research, and legal and regulatory analysis."
    For more information, see their website:
    http://rose.claremontmckenna.edu/

    But that's the kind of independent analysis that I alluded to originally (see above).

    p.s. In case there's anyone that is unaware of the origin or meaning of the term gerrymander...
    it derives from the name of a former US Vice President, Elbridge Gerry, who was a governor
    of Massachusetts in 1812 when districts were redrawn in his party's favor. Two reporters were looking at the new election map and one commented that one of the new districts looked just like a salamander. The other retorted that it looked like a Gerry-mander. The name stuck and is now used by political scientists everywhere. Elbridge Gerry was the 5th Vice President. He served
    under President Madison and was the second Vice President to die in office. He signed both
    the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was one of three
    attendees of the Consitutional Convention to vote against the US Constitution. He also served
    in the US House before becoming a Governor and then a Vice President. And of course, now
    his name is remembered as an eponym.

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