"Gerrymandering: A political abyss"

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Gerrymandering: A political abyss

Ian Woods at Red & Black

http://www.redandblack.com/views/gerrymandering-a-political-abyss/article_eec0aac6-94ce-11e3-ad51-001a4bcf6878.html

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How this relates to the immigration bill and midterm elections is simple: Republican house members are trying to get reelected by pleasing their constituents, which have been gerrymandered into hyper-conservative, utterly inflexible groups. Hence, Boehner flipping his support of the immigration bill was done, not because the bill would make bad policy, but because his party (like all parties) wishes to stay in power and can only do so by forsaking Latino support.

Despite the bind House Republicans find themselves in, history dictates that they will remain the majority party. Midterm elections are notorious for providing the out-party some measure of control. It is a form of balancing act; keeping the President’s power in check by giving the other party control of one or both of the houses of Congress.

The current political climate is running against this grain, however. Congress is suffering from one of the lowest approval ratings in history. When approval ratings are low, a throw-the-bums-out mentality overcomes the traditional out-party dominance.

Bu even this may prove untrue given the power that gerrymandered districts exert on modern American politics. It raises the question: Why don’t we fix the problem?

The answer to that lies in the trouble identifying and policing the practice. In any case, gerrymandering might prove to be the solution to its own problem. As the Republicans are realizing, heavily gerrymandered districts can demand more from their representatives, like forsaking much needed supporters to kill a disliked bill. Continuing practices like that may lead to a ruined and infertile party. As Nietzsche once said, “if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”





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1. I hear a popping sound coming from GOP brains.