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Redistricting to affect 28 states and wreak havoc.

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Matthewthf, Aug 13, 2021.

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  1. Matthewthf

    Matthewthf Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The 2020 Cencus is over and here comes the redistricting. So both parties do it. The Republicans do it more because they control more states. The Democrats cry about it but they do it too. In New York they could drop the number of Republican House seats from 8 to 4 or even just 3 seats. Republicans could make big changes in Texas and Florida for example. These changes will last 10 year's or more.

    So the numbers I'm seeing from online says the Republicans control 20 states for a total of 187 congressional districts and the Democrats control 8 states for a total of 75 districts.

    What are your thoughts and how will this affect the midterms for the House?
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2021
    Matthewthf, Aug 13, 2021
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  2. 21Bronco

    21Bronco Banned

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    Democrats will do it in IL, too, which is slated to lose a House seat. Which is likely why Adam Kinzinger joined the J6 commission - he knows it's his last go-round in all likelihood

    Redistricting is a fact of political life.
     
    21Bronco, Aug 13, 2021
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  3. Kranes56

    Kranes56 Banned

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    I would like to remind people this is a really stupid way to do things. No way this is even remotely democratic (in the sense of abiding by ideas for democracy).
     
    Kranes56, Aug 13, 2021
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  4. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    I think we are way beyond the idea that the USA is a democracy.
     
    MJ Davies, Aug 13, 2021
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  5. Kranes56

    Kranes56 Banned

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    It's barely one but it's still a democracy.
     
    Kranes56, Aug 13, 2021
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  6. Matthewthf

    Matthewthf Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I don't support redistricting/ gerrymandering.

    We need a new and fair process or both sides will continue to abuse redistricting.
     
    Matthewthf, Aug 14, 2021
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  7. Matthewthf

    Matthewthf Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Does anyone have any ideas to solutions to make the process more fair?
     
    Matthewthf, Aug 14, 2021
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  8. Patricio Da Silva

    Patricio Da Silva Well-Known Member Donor

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    Currently, 21 U.S. states have some form of non-partisan or bipartisan redistricting commission. Of these 21 states, 13 use redistricting commissions (including California) to exclusively draw electoral district boundaries

    That is the solution.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistricting_commission
     
    Patricio Da Silva, Aug 14, 2021
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  9. Patricio Da Silva

    Patricio Da Silva Well-Known Member Donor

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    Currently, 21 U.S. states have some form of non-partisan or bipartisan redistricting commission. Of these 21 states, 13 use redistricting commissions to exclusively draw electoral district boundaries

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistricting_commission
     
    Patricio Da Silva, Aug 14, 2021
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  10. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    My understanding of the 2 party system is neither side wants other players (parties). It's the only thing they seem to agree on.

    So, my guess would be they also don't want to make the process more fair. Why would they even consider it?
     
    MJ Davies, Aug 14, 2021
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  11. Meta777

    Meta777 Moderator Staff Member

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    They'll consider it if enough of their constituents demand it of them.
    Of course, their ability to choose their own constituents through the current Gerrymander-infused process makes that a bit more difficult, but that on its own isn't an insurmountable obstacle if the people really want something bad enough and resolve to start holding politicians to account by voting those politicians out of office when they refuse to provide it.

    First step though is simply to know what the options are and to let our representatives know which ones we're on board with. Patricio mentioned non-partisan and bipartisan redistricting commissions a few posts up. Those are some good options I think, but there are also several others. A couple years ago, a few of us actually had a Ranked Vote on the subject. Below are the options we came up with for that vote:
    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...ting-and-end-political-gerrymandering.534578/

    How To Reform Redistricting And End Political Gerrymandering?:
    A. Use Automated Algorithm to Draw Maps Based on Key Principles of Fairness
    B. Algorithm: Square-Rectangle Method
    C. Algorithm: Shortest Split Line Method
    D. Algorithm: Ring Method
    E. Algorithm: Ring Method (Quadrant)
    F. Algorithm: Ring Method (Multi Segmented)
    G. Limit District Lines to County Borders
    H. Require Districts to Meet a Complexity Ratio Standard
    I. Require Districts to Meet a Proportionality Ratio Standard
    J. Use Bipartisan Councils
    K. Use Independent Commissions
    L. Party-list Proportional Representation
    M. Single Transferable Vote
    N. Mixed-member Proportional Representation
    O. Use Panel-Decided Algorithm + Map Approval by Independent Commission
    P. Two District States (Rural/not Rural) + District Level Proportional Vote
    Q. Leave Things as They Are (Status Quo Option)
    ​
    Personally, I'm partial to the algorithmic methods there or setting specific incontrovertible standards that can't be mucked around with, something like the Complexity/Proportionality Ratio Standard or using the Square-Rectangle Method to draw maps. The winning option from that particular vote though just so happened to be an option that got rid of the whole map-making aspect altogether, something known as Single Transferable Vote, which I also think is pretty good option, especially given its Ranked Voting nature. That said, the vote in question was a bit light on attendance that week compared to others. If there was interest for it, I might set up another one to see if we'd get similar results or new options. Just out of curiosity of course. I do think most of the options listed above would be sufficient to solve the issue if any of them were to be implemented...

    -Meta
     
    Meta777, Aug 14, 2021
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  12. joesnagg

    joesnagg Banned

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    It'll be ALL about gaining an advantage in the midterms....and applying the words "non-partisan", "bipartisan" to political redistricting is beyond laughable, unless it's being farmed out to the space aliens.
     
    joesnagg, Aug 14, 2021
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  13. Kranes56

    Kranes56 Banned

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    We definitely need to do that. Since the white population is decreasing, Republicans are going to feel a stronger need to continue to be less and less democratic. I don’t like what this will lead to going down the line.
     
    Kranes56, Aug 14, 2021
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  14. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    @Meta777, I think that could solve many of our problems. People love to complain but they don't generally want to take action to change whatever they are complaining about.

    I've bookmarked your links and am interested in learning more about this process. Thanks for sharing it for us relative newbies.
     
    MJ Davies, Aug 14, 2021
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  15. Sirius Black

    Sirius Black Well-Known Member

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    Step # 1 take redistricting powers away from the legislatures who will always look to maximimize the party that is in power.
     
    Sirius Black, Aug 14, 2021
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  16. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    How can that happen? What needs to be done?
     
    MJ Davies, Aug 14, 2021
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  17. 21Bronco

    21Bronco Banned

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    It's actually not all that stupid. Part of electing people results in the ability, every so often, to reshuffle the deck, to make sure they are better represented.
     
    21Bronco, Aug 14, 2021
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  18. 21Bronco

    21Bronco Banned

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    How is redistricting undemocatic? You'd give that power to an unelected, unaccountable body instead?
     
    21Bronco, Aug 14, 2021
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  19. 21Bronco

    21Bronco Banned

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    No thanks. That's less democratic than having the state legislatures do it.
     
    21Bronco, Aug 14, 2021
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  20. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn't it be nice if we could ban politics from American life?
     
    fmw, Aug 14, 2021
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  21. Chrizton

    Chrizton Well-Known Member

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    Well the states that lost or gained seats will be greatly affected. Otherwise it probably doesn't boil down to much.
     
    Chrizton, Aug 14, 2021
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  22. Lee Atwater

    Lee Atwater Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Dems have proposed legislation to end partisan gerrymandering. Repubs refuse to support it.
     
    Lee Atwater, Aug 14, 2021
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  23. Kranes56

    Kranes56 Banned

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    Stacking the deck in favor of one political party over the other... is undemocatic.
     
    Kranes56, Aug 14, 2021
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  24. 21Bronco

    21Bronco Banned

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    It’s not stacking the deck necessarily. It’s adjusting how you’re represented. If you were a blue voter in a red district and never had representation you agreed with, then a Democrat carved off your house into his blue district, wouldn’t you like that better?
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2021
    21Bronco, Aug 14, 2021
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  25. ShadowX

    ShadowX Well-Known Member

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    No. It’s a constitutional republic predicated upon democratic principles.
     
    ShadowX, Aug 14, 2021
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