Eastpointe to change how it elects its city council (Detroit: live, office)

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

This might have something to do (if memory serves me correctly) as part of a Supreme Court case associated with the Voting Rights Act of 1964/5. Basically - the Courts ruled that if there were majority black areas in a tract census, those couldn't be gerrymandered to dilute the effect of the black vote. I'm not sure how relevant this is in 2016 - but I think that was the original basis. If you had a city of Inkster, for example, you couldn't fully lump it into a neighboring city of 3 times the population and 95% white to dilute the black vote. So, in effect, the restricting just lumps all the black votes together into a solidly Dem district - that's why you'll see the one in Michigan go from Melvindale, through Detroit, up into Pontiac.

So if an area is "written off" to be Democratic area - you'll see it tries to cover as many white Democratic suburbs as well - so those votes can't have as large of an impact in a Republican leaning area. See these two maps.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michig...ince_2013).tif

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michig...ince_2013).tif

That infuriates me even more - to see those "districts" winding around all over the place like a Chinese dragon. They should be squares or as nearly squared as possible. Race shouldn't even be a consideration, only population. It assumes people relate to each other more by race than by proximity. "I'm a black person living in northern Oakland County but my needs are more in common with my black brethren who live in downtown Detroit rather than my white neighbors in Oakland County". This thinking reflects a racist belief that blacks are "different".

[belleislerunner]

That used to be the case a decade or so ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michig...80%93_2002.tif

The most important election in Michigan every ten years is actually the election in the year ending in 0 (2000, 2010, 2020) - because the maps are redrawn every ten years based on the most recent census and the party in control of Lansing determines those maps (i.e. has a vested interest to protect their seats).

For example, current prediction is that Michigan would lose 1 congressional seat - so all those maps would be redrawn (assuming Republicans hold control) so that two Democratic seats are merged into one district. Given each district has approximate population - it makes the boundaries change every ten years.

Some states, notably out west, have gone to districts being drawn by a nonpolitical body - as opposed to the ruling party - be it Rep or Dem.

[Indentured Servant]

Originally Posted by Retroit

That infuriates me even more - to see those "districts" winding around all over the place like a Chinese dragon. They should be squares or as nearly squared as possible. Race shouldn't even be a consideration, only population. It assumes people relate to each other more by race than by proximity. "I'm a black person living in northern Oakland County but my needs are more in common with my black brethren who live in downtown Detroit rather than my white neighbors in Oakland County". This thinking reflects a racist belief that blacks are "different".

Society has had to come up with some kind of way to circumvent the existence of racism....because you cannot legislate what is in peoples hearts and minds. The maps are crazy....yes.....but they are that way for a reason. Eighty Five plus percent of African Americans vote democratic. Fifty Five plus percent of whites vote Republican. We do all want the same things.....but we often see a different path to getting there....which is why we vote differently.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by Indentured Servant

Society has had to come up with some kind of way to circumvent the existence of racism....because you cannot legislate what is in peoples hearts and minds. The maps are crazy....yes.....but they are that way for a reason. Eighty Five plus percent of African Americans vote democratic. Fifty Five plus percent of whites vote Republican. We do all want the same things.....but we often see a different path to getting there....which is why we vote differently.

The government of Eastpointe has been solidly Democratic for decades, so it's not a matter of Democrat vs. Republican. It's a matter of the Obama DOJ insisting that black Democrats will somehow govern differently than white Democrats. A white Democrat couldn't possibly expect to know whether a black Democrat wants their garbage picked up once a week or whether they want clean water when they turn on the faucet.

[Indentured Servant]

Originally Posted by Retroit

The government of Eastpointe has been solidly Democratic for decades, so it's not a matter of Democrat vs. Republican. It's a matter of the Obama DOJ insisting that black Democrats will somehow govern differently than white Democrats. A white Democrat couldn't possibly expect to know whether a black Democrat wants their garbage picked up once a week or whether they want clean water when they turn on the faucet.

I understand what you are saying....but what is true for the whole is not necessarily true of its parts. Many whites in Michigan, certainly not all, are Democrats mainly because of labor concerns. If not for labor, Michigan would be a solidly Red state, in my opinion. Blacks tend to vote democrat for for somewhat different reasons, in degree or kind. In other words, just because two people may be democrat....it does not mean that they will agree on everything or even most things.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by Indentured Servant

I understand what you are saying....but what is true for the whole is not necessarily true of its parts. Many whites in Michigan, certainly not all, are Democrats mainly because of labor concerns. If not for labor, Michigan would be a solidly Red state, in my opinion. Blacks tend to vote democrat for for somewhat different reasons, in degree or kind. In other words, just because two people may be democrat....it does not mean that they will agree on everything or even most things.

Okay, but at a city level, what could blacks and whites want different that justifies Obama's DOJ forcing a small town to change a voter-approved city charter? Is there some great municipal innovation that blacks are privy to that whites aren't? Or is this another case of the government declaring that standards must be dumbed-down so even a mere black person can get elected?

[MS313]

Maybe I'm missing something... where in the article did it say anything about Obama?

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by MS313

Maybe I'm missing something... where in the article did it say anything about Obama?

Who do you think appointed Loretta Lynch? This is all a part of Obama's last ditch effort to make himself look like the Savior of Black People. He has failed miserably and is now taking it out on those least able to confront him. Eastpointe city officials are doing the right thing by going along with this farce because to challenge it would just bring more retribution from the Race Monger In Chief.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Who do you think appointed Loretta Lynch? This is all a part of Obama's last ditch effort to make himself look like the Savior of Black People. He has failed miserably and is now taking it out on those least able to confront him. Eastpointe city officials are doing the right thing by going along with this farce because to challenge it would just bring more retribution from the Race Monger In Chief.

Lol he failed miserably? He did most of what he said he was going to do during his campaign promises even with congress fighting him every single time. That's why his approval rating are pretty good (much better than Bush btw). And Obama has never tried to make himself look like the "savior of black people", he wanted to pass laws to benefit all Americans not just "black people". And how is he a Race Monger when he will criticize a group of any race if they are in the wrong INCLUDING black people? Even his freaking vice president is white .

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by MS313

Lol he failed miserably? He did most of what he said he was going to do during his campaign promises even with congress fighting him every single time. That's why his approval rating are pretty good (much better than Bush btw). And Obama has never tried to make himself look like the "savior of black people", he wanted to pass laws to benefit all Americans not just "black people". And how is he a Race Monger when he will criticize a group of any race if they are in the wrong INCLUDING black people? Even his freaking vice president is white .

Blacks are much worse off under Obama than before. He is desperately trying to leave a legacy: "I forced little ol' Eastpointe to elect a black person." lol, what a joke!