Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Great Idea Known as Gerrymandering.


"A district or pattern of districts varying greatly in size or population as a result of gerrymandering." (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymandering) Most people do not even know what the word Gerrymandering means. To an educated person they would say It is a way of drawing voting districts to help one particular political party. Though many people probably do not agree with Gerrymandering I believe that it is fair and balanced and the political parties have the right to do this. When they are elected into office they are being elected by the people. So it is fair for them to be able to set the district lines for the people. Each side both Democrats, Republicans, and even Independents are allowed to Gerrymander so this is fair seeing as both side are aloud to do this and not that one side is left out.
There are a few thing that I would have Congress consider about setting up laws that would at least restrict and control Gerrymandering.
For the first part I believe that there need to be stricter laws in place that stop state legislatures who create these districts lines from discriminating against people in these districts. Most importantly that State legislatures do not solely create these lines not just from peoples race but also from people's religious views and their income levels. I do not believe that laws should just stop legislatures from solely making district line on people race. I believe that we should also protect people with different religious views and from their income level. We should not just protect from people’s race from being discriminated against but also what they believe in and how much they make. Cause all of those matter are not fair for people to be grouped as, it is unfair and unjust.
Another way that I would consider to help regulate gerrymandering is to stop or at least hinder making of districts that are completely ludicrous in their shape and design.  In searching for solutions to this problem, I have found one good suggestion from a website by Jeffry R Fisher. (http://jeffryfisher.net/Statesman/ElectionLaw/Gerrymander.htm)
He suggested a ratio of perimeter to area that would keep districts from looking like the one in the picture above.  He notes that this potential solution would not stop state legislatures from trying to make districts like those above and gerrymandering, but it will definitely make it more difficult.

1 comment:

  1. You did really good explaining to someone who has not been educated in certain forms of politics what gerrymandering is. You made it very easy to understand and gave proof and evidence of it as well. I enjoyed reading it.

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