Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Part of the problem with these so called independent redistricting committees is that they are filled with political appointees rather than citizens with no connections. We just passed the same in NY on a referendum in November but the appointees are selected by the state legislature, that's the dilemma. How do you get a truly independent commission if politicians are making the selection and if they can't agree on a plan it defaults to the legislature for approval.
The amendment was challenged by Common Cause and other independent groups but it was approved on the ballot, We need real reform on redistricting so we can get rid of lifetime politicians.
I voted for the redistricting plan. Wasn't really a fan of it, but knowing how Albany works figured it was better than anything else that they would come up with, especially after the State Senate and Skelos back tracked on the initial agreement that was suppose to take shape prior to the last round of redistricting.
Eh, this is actually a minor case in that it doesn't impact much in terms of the balance of things. In the two more important cases issued today (death penalty and environmental regulation), the conservative side prevailed. Note, even in this redistricting case, you have two additional conservatives who dissented on the grounds that the Arizona Legislature lacked standing to bring the case to begin with; so, we should really look at the case as a 7-2 as 7 justices are happy, based on their interpretation of things, to let the commission stand.
Many Democrats have deluded themselves into believing that gerrymandering is the major reason why they are in the House minority. The major reason is the fact that their voters (in the Obama era) are largely concentrated in urban centers. The party has lost so much of its appeal among white voters who live in rural areas and in the South.
Granted, doing poorly among white voters didn't hurt the party in the 2012 presidential election, but that was only because of the extraordinary performance that Obama had among blacks and Hispanics. In 2016, black turnout will be lower, and many in the GOP are trying to address their problems with Hispanics. By contrast, no Democrat other than Jim Webb even seems to care about the fact that the party can no longer connect with rural and Southern white voters.
Agreed but remember, it is always gerrymandering when you don't agree with the results of redistricting.
Sometimes, yes.
But a lot of times - no.
There are any number of ways to draw any given district. The person/people doing the drawing are always going to have to make value judgements about what is the fairest way. And it's hardly ever going to be perfectly fair.
Ironically, the most progressive states, like California, don't gerrymander and have independent commissions draw the districts . Republicans can only win based on fear, division, and cheating
Funny stuff, got to love no.1 in NC it extends over 100 miles and is about half a mile wide at points. They all look like snakes.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. Republicans can only win based on fear, division, and cheating
