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FakeNoose

(41,702 posts)
34. Our census revises the population every 10 years - so we do this every 10 years
Wed Apr 20, 2022, 09:57 PM
Apr 2022

It has been explained in other posts here that there are no hard-and-fast rules set up by our Constitution on how to draw up the districts. Rural counties have low pop. density so it often takes several counties to make up one Congressional District. Meanwhile metropolitan (big city) districts are split into multiple Congressional Districts that are required to have nearly equal population - since those citizens all live much closer together.

Consider the Senate for a moment. Every state has two Senators no matter how large or small the state is. Most of us understand why the Senate is set up to favor the rural low-population states that are mostly conservative. Those Senators from rural low-pop states have more voting power per state than the Senators who were voted in by high pop (usually liberal) states. If you understand that distinction in the Senate, then it would be the same thing if we made each county have its own Representative regardless of how many citizens lived in the county. The Representatives from (conservative) rural counties would have more voting power than the Representatives from high population (liberal) counties. It would defeat the purpose of having a House of Representatives if we did that. So that's why we don't have it.

It's complicated and hard work to draw up fair Congressional District maps, but it can be done. My contention is that incumbents (current office-holders) should not be allowed to participate.

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It was a ballot initiative here in my state (CA) intrepidity Apr 2022 #1
Yes! That's what I mean. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #7
In WI with control of the governor and the legislature could do whatever they want. LakeArenal Apr 2022 #2
Yes, and it drives me insane. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #9
I share your frustration. Apparently it's up to the states. yardwork Apr 2022 #3
And it infuriates me! smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #11
Don't say that. They want you to say that. LakeArenal Apr 2022 #13
Its allowed because thatdemguy Apr 2022 #4
It would have been outlawed this past year but Manchin and Sinema voted No. LonePirate Apr 2022 #12
But it should not be allowed in the first place. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #14
I think it should be done by zip code jimfields33 Apr 2022 #16
Gerrymandering should absolutely be outlawed. Elessar Zappa Apr 2022 #5
But if they didn't and we didn't, wouldnt we ultimately have the advantage? smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #15
Yes, Democrats would definitely have the advantage. Elessar Zappa Apr 2022 #24
From what I have read recently, it appears redistricting has favored Democrats this year. Hoyt Apr 2022 #6
Simple answer: nobody said they couldn't brooklynite Apr 2022 #8
Right. There are a lot of things that the Constitution does not specifically mention. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #17
As George Carlin would say, Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #10
Exactly. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #18
I, too, miss him and I also miss Mr.Bill Apr 2022 #20
Here are two articles on the practice sdfernando Apr 2022 #19
Wow. Didn't realize that. Very interesting. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #25
Maybe it wasn't so bad moondust Apr 2022 #21
I'm not sure. I'm not an expert on this subject, obviously. But there has to be a way to smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #26
I'm no expert. moondust Apr 2022 #32
Gerrymandering is what the incumbents do to put their thumbs on the scale FakeNoose Apr 2022 #22
Thank you! This is the answer I was looking for. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #27
Our census revises the population every 10 years - so we do this every 10 years FakeNoose Apr 2022 #34
Well explained. Thank you! smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #35
I recently gained more understanding of the complexities of redistricting intrepidity Apr 2022 #23
Thank you very much! This is really helpful! smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #29
because for the most part... States get to decide how they hold elections. WarGamer Apr 2022 #28
That's the problem, isn't it. smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #30
Is it? WarGamer Apr 2022 #31
No, I don't mean so much that states don't have freedom to have their own rights to smirkymonkey Apr 2022 #33
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Gerrymandering. Explain ...»Reply #34