The problem is that it's a bad system. The only way to fix the problem is for the people who benefit from Gerrymandering to just give up their advantage. Not going to happen. Eventually, people won't settle for this extreme minority rule, but there's no peaceful way to force change. The resolution of our systematic problems will be ugly. I'm terrified for every generation younger than mine.
The problem is that it's a bad system. The only way to fix the problem is for the people who benefit from Gerrymandering to just give up their advantage. Not going to happen. Eventually, people won't settle for this extreme minority rule, but there's no peaceful way to force change. The resolution of our systematic problems will be ugly. I'm terrified for every generation younger than mine.
The тАЬsystemтАЭ seemed so genius until something changed around the era of Reagan, Gingrich, Atwater, etc. I remember I used to marvel that the founders had created something that withstood time and trouble, and we were taught the genius of their тАЬchecks and balancesтАЭ. But I think bad intentions by those in power werenтАЩt given quite enough weight. So much of our mechanics of government are based on presumed honor and integrity. ThatтАЩs been completely turned on itтАЩs head; now more effort is applied to subvert the system than to win within it.
True; Big Data. IтАЩm wondering if gerrymandering was pursued with such blatant scheming vigor, even without the benefit of computers. I suppose itтАЩs hard to separate out.
A modern computer is exponentially faster than hand. To really Gerrymander well, you have to try thousands of slight variations to the shape of a district. By hand, that's a pain so you settle for good enough. Software can draw a new district very rapidly.
The problem is that it's a bad system. The only way to fix the problem is for the people who benefit from Gerrymandering to just give up their advantage. Not going to happen. Eventually, people won't settle for this extreme minority rule, but there's no peaceful way to force change. The resolution of our systematic problems will be ugly. I'm terrified for every generation younger than mine.
The тАЬsystemтАЭ seemed so genius until something changed around the era of Reagan, Gingrich, Atwater, etc. I remember I used to marvel that the founders had created something that withstood time and trouble, and we were taught the genius of their тАЬchecks and balancesтАЭ. But I think bad intentions by those in power werenтАЩt given quite enough weight. So much of our mechanics of government are based on presumed honor and integrity. ThatтАЩs been completely turned on itтАЩs head; now more effort is applied to subvert the system than to win within it.
Gerrymandering was a lot more trouble before computers. The genie is out of the bottle!
True; Big Data. IтАЩm wondering if gerrymandering was pursued with such blatant scheming vigor, even without the benefit of computers. I suppose itтАЩs hard to separate out.
A modern computer is exponentially faster than hand. To really Gerrymander well, you have to try thousands of slight variations to the shape of a district. By hand, that's a pain so you settle for good enough. Software can draw a new district very rapidly.
They have...in blue states. It is one of the worst own goals in the last 20 years.