[RD] Death to the Gerrymander

[hobbsyoyo]

Given the massive advancements in technology in communications technology and organizational tools, there is no valid reason not to have truly proportional representation anymore. It made sense when everyone rode horses and wrote with pen and paper and had to shout to be heard in a crowd but not in today's world. Really it just comes down to institutional inertia (which makes the Democrats less likely to pick up the issue) and Republican recalcitrance.

 

[BvBPL]

Is Gerrymandering any more (or less) acceptable if it is approved by voters at ballot? The Maryland Gerrymandering case before the Supreme Court yesterday was expressly established to advantage Democrats over Republicans, but it was also approved by 64% of Maryland voters at ballot.

 

[rah]

At least they let it get to the ballot. In Illinois ours is mapped drastically to the Democrats advantage and they pull every trick out of the bag to keep a measure to do it non partisan off the ballot every year despite overwhelming support for it. That and the term limits one also.

 

[Lexicus]

Focusing on states that are gerrymandered by Democrats is tantamount to dishonesty. As a matter of historical fact Democrats only started doing this because the Republicans executed a concerted strategy to tilt the composition of the House through gerrymandering. Democrats responded in kind but nowhere near as effectively or comprehensively.

 

[Zkribbler]

Is Gerrymandering any more (or less) acceptable if it is approved by voters at ballot? The Maryland Gerrymandering case before the Supreme Court yesterday was expressly established to advantage Democrats over Republicans, but it was also approved by 64% of Maryland voters at ballot.

The cases being brought these days are bought on the constitutional right sf equal protection under the law and freedom of association. A simple vote at the ballot cannt sweep these right away.

 

[rah]

Focusing on states that are gerrymandered by Democrats is tantamount to dishonesty. As a matter of historical fact Democrats only started doing this because the Republicans executed a concerted strategy to tilt the composition of the House through gerrymandering. Democrats responded in kind but nowhere near as effectively or comprehensively.

Actually that wasn't my focus and I do mostly agree with you (but believe if they had more opportunity that MIGHT be different)
No, my focus was that at least they got it to the ballot. I think if it got to the ballot in most states, that it would be eliminated in most of them. (yes I'm an optimist)

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Is Gerrymandering any more (or less) acceptable if it is approved by voters at ballot? The Maryland Gerrymandering case before the Supreme Court yesterday was expressly established to advantage Democrats over Republicans, but it was also approved by 64% of Maryland voters at ballot.

No

Focusing on states that are gerrymandered by Democrats is tantamount to dishonesty. As a matter of historical fact Democrats only started doing this because the Republicans executed a concerted strategy to tilt the composition of the House through gerrymandering. Democrats responded in kind but nowhere near as effectively or comprehensively.

I know this but honestly anything to make the whole practice die is fine with me.

 

[Lexicus]

I know this but honestly anything to make the whole practice die is fine with me.

Well sure, I don't disagree by any means.

Actually that wasn't my focus and I do mostly agree with you (but believe if they had more opportunity that MIGHT be different)
No, my focus was that at least they got it to the ballot. I think if it got to the ballot in most states, that it would be eliminated in most of them. (yes I'm an optimist)

I'm talking more to BvBPL than you.

 

[rah]

Well I have mentioned the dem leaning version in Illinois multiple times

 

[BvBPL]

Discussing the facts of a case that was before the Supreme Court yesterday is called “being timely.”

Well I have mentioned the dem leaning version in Illinois multiple times

I'm sorry you were left out of being called dishonest for a phoney baloney reason. If you'd like, I'd be happy to PM you next time I make a comment about current affairs so we can coordinate the share of phoney baloney dishonesty claims dispensed here. It's unfair that I should get all the benefits of phoney baloney dishonesty acquisitions and you none.

Like Gerrymandering, phoney baloney dishonest claims have been around since nearly the dawn of the Republic. The notion that Democrats are merely following the wake of recent Republican Gerrymandering is phoney baloney nonsense. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have used Gerrymandering for their own over political benefit for over one hundred years. No one party, and particularly not the Democrats or Republicans, can claim to be pure when it comes to Gerrymandering or phoney baloney nonsense. Also like Gerrymandering, most of us here agree that phoney baloney nonsense is harmful when taken to excess.

Which is why this particular post of phoney baloney nonsense ends here.

 

[Berzerker]

gerrymandering shows the 2 parties are corrupt and despise democracy

 

[stinkubus]

How can gerrymandering be corrupt when the constitution permits it?

 

[Berzerker]

the constitution permitted slavery too

 

[rah]

I'm sorry you were left out of being called dishonest for a phoney baloney reason. If you'd like, I'd be happy to PM you next time I make a comment about current affairs so we can coordinate the share of phoney baloney dishonesty claims dispensed here. It's unfair that I should get all the benefits of phoney baloney dishonesty acquisitions and you none.

I almost spit up my drink on this one. I can always appreciate the humor.
But it's expected, since you lean farther to the right than I you should expect more crap from the left. I have not been immune to their taunts.
But sometimes I wonder, since I'm more moderate and see some issues on one end and others on the other end, I've been known to take abuse from both sides. The cost of posting on the internet. This place at least has the advantage of having those on both sides that are not afraid of the other side, enough so I can get a wide range of thoughts on any subject. Many sites eventually scare away one side and become echo farms. I hope that never happens here. So yeah, pm me the next time.

 

[Berzerker]

left right, right left... sounds like my golf game

 

[rah]

You could still probably kick my butt. The weather is finally turning here though and I expect my first rounds soon.

 

[Zkribbler]

How can gerrymandering be corrupt when the constitution permits it?

No it doesn't. That's what these cases are about.

 

[Berzerker]

By concentrating minority voters into 'safe seats' to achieve a more multi-racial Congress, gerrymandering has also created safe seats for more extremist candidates. The result is fewer centrists get elected to the House because its harder for them to win primaries. These safe seats actually dilute the minority vote outside the safe districts. Partisans dont like open primaries, they dont want 'infidels' voting for the more centrist members of the party.

And then the people who've been pushing for safe seats wonder why the country's becoming increasingly polarized...