Hero tag? Really? More like Fail for subby.

What democratic gerrymandering might look like

Simple solution - follow the Iowa model. Pass a national law that counties cannot be broken up by a number greater than the number of districts. 8 districts = 8 counties can be divided.

Wantna real kick in the ass? Minorities and the GOP both like gerrymandering that ensures minority candidates win seats in congress. The GOP likes it because then they can put so many Democrats in one district, they end up with an 8-3 split in VA rather than a 6-5. Even Jim Moran, given nothing but Northern VA liberals, got just shy of 60% of the vote. Bobby Scott got over 80%. Sure, it guarantees a black congressman from VA. But it costs at LEAST one other Democrat.

Ridiculous gerrymandering in Pennsylvania was okay until Jack Murtha died.

I see it didn't take long for conservatives to start with the "BUT BUT DEMOCRATS"

Our system is so farked.

Gulper Eel: Ridiculous gerrymandering in Pennsylvania was okay until Jack Murtha died.

So is gerrymandering good or bad?

Aarontology: I see it didn't take long for conservatives to start with the "BUT BUT DEMOCRATS"

This is one of those issues where it really is a both sides are pretty much the same thing. I generally vote Dem but it's absolutely ridiculous. One of the guys who just one in Chicago was on public radio literally thanking the state legislature for giving him a winning district.

I'm personally for abolishing districts all together and doing party line multi party voting by state. e.g. if Texas wants to vote 15% Libertarian, 15% of their delegation is Libertarian. It also prevents turds from cementing their place because they were able to convince the DoD to buy from a plant in a county with no people making everyone happy and employed.

Triumph: [fishbowl.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com image 402x226]

What democratic gerrymandering might look like

Simple solution - follow the Iowa model. Pass a national law that counties cannot be broken up by a number greater than the number of districts. 8 districts = 8 counties can be divided.

That's sounds pretty stupid to me. Consider this, the state of Iowa has 3 million people.
Los Angeles county has 10 million and is almost 5,000 square miles. Does a hard limit of 8 really sound like a good idea?

AkaDad: Three words.

Independent redistricting panels.

I'm pretty sure CA took this up in 08 or '10, but I don't know if we have done anything with it yet.

\utterly useless comment by me =/

Wellon Dowd: If the per-capita number of members of the House was the same now as in the first Congress there would be over 8000 Representatives. Smaller districts, by the very nature, would be more homogenous and more clearly represent the interests of the populace of that district. It would also allow regular people to run for Congress.

QFT. The House needs to increase in membership, but both parties and lobbyists hate that idea.

Vegan Meat Popsicle: No, it's never been okay, but good job trying to deflect attention away from your own party who is only desperately clinging to relevancy via gerrymandering and election tampering.

I voted for Gary Johnson, so I'm not sure who you're talking about.

Good job trying to deflect attention away from a crook like the late congressman, though.

Wellon Dowd: If the per-capita number of members of the House was the same now as in the first Congress there would be over 8000 Representatives. Smaller districts, by the very nature, would be more homogenous and more clearly represent the interests of the populace of that district. It would also allow regular people to run for Congress.

I could go for this.

Maryland districts are highly gerrymandered. Within 3 miles of my house, I can cross 4 different congressional districts. Between my kids school and my house I cross 3.

In Maryland there was a question on the ballot asking if you wanted to reject the map and replace it. It passed rather handily. However it was simply a rejection of the current districts. There is nothing to prevent the governer from simply submitting the same map again.

Wellon Dowd: If the per-capita number of members of the House was the same now as in the first Congress there would be over 8000 Representatives. Smaller districts, by the very nature, would be more homogenous and more clearly represent the interests of the populace of that district. It would also allow regular people to run for Congress.

Yes, but that would mean the Democrats would take clear control for the forseeable future, which is unfair.

BMulligan: Gulper Eel: Wellon Dowd: If the per-capita number of members of the House was the same now as in the first Congress there would be over 8000 Representatives. Smaller districts, by the very nature, would be more homogenous and more clearly represent the interests of the populace of that district. It would also allow regular people to run for Congress.

I could go for this.

My god, what a farking awful idea. If you think Congress is an unworkable mess now, just wait until it's sixteen times bigger.

Actually, the house generally moves legislation through smoothly since all bills have a firm time limit on amendments and discussion. It's the Senate that's intractable.

Terlis: Uchiha_Cycliste: Los Angeles county has 10 million and is almost 5,000 square miles. Does a hard limit of 8 really sound like a good idea?

You do realize that because California has 55 electoral votes, that means up to 55 counties can be divided in CA.

I'm speaking solely to the idea that a county should be restricted to 8 districts. It's a foolish idea as it in no way takes into account population density. I am aware of California's overall representative potential.
If you go by pure population, LA country should have 14 or 15 representatives, not a max of 8.

In 2014 the Republicans will have 13 Senators up for reelection. The Democrats will have 20. Six of those Democrats are in red states, and seven are in swing states. On the House side, Republican only need to win 1/3 of the competitive seats to stay in control. That all sounds bad for the Democrats. However, the Republicans are nuts and have already vowed to double down on the Ryan plan and their rape-rape thing. So the Democrats have that going for them, which is nice.

When the Democrats retake the House in 2014, I'm looking forward to Alan Grayson (D-FL) reintroducing his Public Option Act. It lets anyone buy into Medicare. It's as close as we're going to get to single payer.

BMulligan: Gulper Eel: Wellon Dowd: If the per-capita number of members of the House was the same now as in the first Congress there would be over 8000 Representatives. Smaller districts, by the very nature, would be more homogenous and more clearly represent the interests of the populace of that district. It would also allow regular people to run for Congress.

I could go for this.

My god, what a farking awful idea. If you think Congress is an unworkable mess now, just wait until it's sixteen times bigger.

Legalize dueling and make C-Span a pay per view channel.

Good times all around!

Liberals should really give up this whining about gerrymandering because liberals do exactly the same thing every time they get the chance. Doesn't make it right by any stretch of the imagination, but clutching at pearls and hand wringing about the Republicans doing it is pretty hypocritical.