Gerrymandering

#52
#52
McDad said:
Would you favor creating districts which adhere to the demographic percentages which are present in the US according to census data?
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I would be in favor of districts that make sense, however that is achieved. Using Jordan’s district as an example, it makes no sense for people in Elyria (western suburb of Cleveland close to the lake) to be represented by the same person that represents the people in the rural agricultural counties north of Dayton. May as well be different countries.
 
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#53
#53
OHvol40 said:
I would be in favor of districts that make sense, however that is achieved. Using Jordan’s district as an example, it makes no sense for people in Elyria (western suburb of Cleveland close to the lake) to be represented by the same person that represents the same people in the rural agricultural counties north of Dayton. May as well be different countries.
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Since you don't think we can rely on our elected representatives to decide the congressional districts, how would you do it?
 
#54
#54
VolStrom said:
Since you don't think we can rely on our elected representatives to decide the congressional districts, how would you do it?
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Voter determined districts, independent commissions, compact districts using algorithms... I mean there are a number of better ways than representatives who don’t have term limits choosing their own constituents.
 
#55
#55
OHvol40 said:
Regardless of who is doing the gerrymandering, it’s a big problem. Ohio is a great example of candidates choosing their constituents rather than the other way around. Here is Ohio’s congressional district map...

View attachment 347519

It’s clearly made to isolate urban populations to the smallest amount of influence possible.
Look at Jim Jordan’s district, it’s the most illogical map you could possibly create and so obviously avoids any population centers and college towns like Findlay and Bowling Green.

View attachment 347528
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Let’s get rid of this 2 party BS and gerrymandering suddenly becomes less of an issue.
 
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#57
#57
OHvol40 said:
Voter determined districts, independent commissions, compact districts using algorithms... I mean there are a number of better ways than representatives who don’t have term limits choosing their own constituents.
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They don't choose their own constituents. House members (technically) have no say in the configuration of their districts since redistricting is done at the state legislature level.
 
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#58
#58
OHvol40 said:
I would be in favor of districts that make sense, however that is achieved. Using Jordan’s district as an example, it makes no sense for people in Elyria (western suburb of Cleveland close to the lake) to be represented by the same person that represents the same people in the rural agricultural counties north of Dayton. May as well be different countries.
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Doing some research they lost two districts with the 2010 census. I cant find a good older map of the districts to compare. There is a blurry one on wikipedia that is hard to tell much about.
 
#60
#60
hog88 said:
They don't choose their own constituents. House members (technically) have no say in the configuration of their districts since redistricting is done at the state legislature level.
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Right, but their party won’t do their bidding?
 
#61
#61
OHvol40 said:
I would be in favor of districts that make sense, however that is achieved. Using Jordan’s district as an example, it makes no sense for people in Elyria (western suburb of Cleveland close to the lake) to be represented by the same person that represents the same people in the rural agricultural counties north of Dayton. May as well be different countries.
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You will need to define what makes sense and then hope that definition makes sense to others.

If you create districts which mirror US demographic data, then no minority would dominate any district. This doesn't imply minorities would not be elected. It also dosen't imply minorities wouldn't be represented. It may be the most fair way to approach the matter. But it also may be the most unnerving to some.

How does one craft district boundaries which are sensical, representative, and adequately mirror the country?
 
#62
#62
OHvol40 said:
Right, but their party won’t do their bidding?
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Yes, both parties do it. If you want to swing it back into the dems favor, work to get more of them elected at the state legislator level. Y'all are just pissed because the Rs controlled more states in census years.
 
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#63
#63
hog88 said:
No they shouldn't.
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We've got a few very strategically placed territories - Guam is a great reminder. Some trusts like most of Micronesia are debatable - it was obvious after spending a week on Truk and island hopping through some others that most of those would fall into the category of severe fixer uppers. American Samoa is almost certainly a keeper, but I'd tend to whiff on PR - a money pit. If we are going to keep them, it's a two part issue - they have to want us. They have to have some kind of representation for it to be an honest relationship. They aren't states, so they don't get the rights and privileges of a state, but we really want to keep a handful happy as US citizens of a sort. The real shame is that American Samoa doesn't seem to have the surrounding protective reefs like Tahiti and the other French Polynesian islands.
 
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#64
#64
evillawyer said:
When you have a winner take all system, you inevitably get two parties. That's why no third party survives for very long.
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It's the way we are wired. It always comes down to a battle between the last two in almost every situation whether it's politics, sports, or most other competition. Even with laws to limit mergers, you see corporations gradually creeping toward fewer and fewer competitors in a field. We couldn't even leave the bowl system alone in college football - had to go to playoff for a number one that is decided in a game played by two teams.
 
#65
#65
AM64 said:
It's the way we are wired. It always comes down to a battle between the last two in almost every situation whether it's politics, sports, or most other competition. Even with laws to limit mergers, you see corporations gradually creeping toward fewer and fewer competitors in a field. We couldn't even leave the bowl system alone in college football - had to go to playoff for a number one that is decided in a game played by two teams.
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Duverger's law - Wikipedia
 
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#67
#67
evillawyer said:
So certain Americans (Washingtonians, Puerto Ricans) shouldn't have representation in Congress?
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Pretty sure Washingtonians already have a state.

Oh, you mean the District of Columbia? No they shouldn't and neither should Puerto Rico!
 
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