Sunday, 9 April 2023

Can House Representation Occur Without Drawing Lines and Using Gerrymandering In Some Way?

 NO.

I sat and read through some blunt comments yesterday of an individual who wants absolute gerrymandering gone....that it's unfair and discriminants against the public.  

Once we established that 435 members is the limit, that the Census would give us the right balance, and then handed it to each state to manage....the ONLY outcome is using data and gerrymandering.  Both parties do it.

If you wanted to toss Gerrymandering?  Well...about the only two methods left is: (1) just have one big massive vote in the state to allow party percentages to occur and allow the parties to fill the seats (like the German method) or (2) dictate no lines and mandate that you have to use already existing country lines.  No one seems to respect the county line idea because there's some element of unfairness there as well.

Under the German method....it does not matter if 16 states exist or that you have 401 counties/districts.  You have one election....nationally, there is a split of party votes, and then you tell X-party they get 40 seats, and Y-party that they get 130 seats (remember there are usually six parties to get seats).  

Why all this unfairness about gerrymandering?  It's been around for over 200 years and you can make the case since the early 1900s....it's been data-driven.  The funny thing here, is that people with agendas....typically fail to mention that in their highly urbanized city (Chicago for example)....the districts in the city for city council.....are gerrymandered as well.  Portland is about the only US city in existence which avoids districts in the typical fashion.

A lot of hype over nothing?  I get that impression. It's like trying to make a Long Island Ice Tea, without any booze and be happy over the taste.  

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