onejayhawk
Afflicted with reason
This is a very partisan issue and it always has been. Gerrymandering is the party in political power shaping the political districts to perpetuate their political position. In general the idea is to highly concentrate your opponents, allowing yourself to maintain a slight majority in many districts. It does not always work as one might expect. For example, there are several instances from the 1960s and 1970s where black Democrats worked with Republicans to ensure black control of certain inner city districts.
Generally, I think the subject is a political crutch. While the effects are real, they are also transitory in many case. Demographics change much faster than election maps and narrow majorities turn easily into narrow minorities.
Since there is a Supreme Court case on the subject coming soon, it is once again making news. Here is a good look at the Democrat's view of the subject.
http://prospect.org/article/slaying-partisan-gerrymander
J
Generally, I think the subject is a political crutch. While the effects are real, they are also transitory in many case. Demographics change much faster than election maps and narrow majorities turn easily into narrow minorities.
Since there is a Supreme Court case on the subject coming soon, it is once again making news. Here is a good look at the Democrat's view of the subject.
http://prospect.org/article/slaying-partisan-gerrymander
J