Comments on: ANATOMY OF A PARTISAN GERRYMANDER http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/ OPIATE OF THE ASSES Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:57:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TGAP Dad http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7763 TGAP Dad Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:27:33 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7763 I haven't seen Texas' district map, But I would be surprised if it was in fact worse than Michigan's, under one-party (Repugnican, no it's not a typo) control in 2000: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Congress01-state-E_43697_7.pdf And if you still have any remaining doubt, may I present Michigan's 55th state house district, where my parent's live under Repug rule: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/House_55_30696_7.pdf I haven't seen Texas' district map, But I would be surprised if it was in fact worse than Michigan's, under one-party (Repugnican, no it's not a typo) control in 2000: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Congress01-state-E_43697_7.pdf
And if you still have any remaining doubt, may I present Michigan's 55th state house district, where my parent's live under Repug rule: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/House_55_30696_7.pdf

]]> By: Batocchio http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7762 Batocchio Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:33:16 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7762 Nice dissection, and a good example. Then there's the Bush administration's decision to cut the DOJ review that used to take place out of the loop, which occurred after a group of predominantly Republican lawyers at the DOJ concluded that Delay's redistricting had been wrong. Nice dissection, and a good example. Then there's the Bush administration's decision to cut the DOJ review that used to take place out of the loop, which occurred after a group of predominantly Republican lawyers at the DOJ concluded that Delay's redistricting had been wrong.

]]> By: Ed http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7761 Ed Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:04:38 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7761 I could write a Visual Basic script in ArcGIS that would do it, and I don't even know VB or GIS all that well. So yes, I'm confident that someone with a high level of knowledge could do such a thing. I could write a Visual Basic script in ArcGIS that would do it, and I don't even know VB or GIS all that well. So yes, I'm confident that someone with a high level of knowledge could do such a thing.

]]> By: JC http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7760 JC Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:49:03 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7760 I've been thinking that redistricting could be something done by computer with a few inputs to guide the process. The overriding goal of computer drawn districts would be to avoid the very things you mention in your post: Split counties. Boundaries that just barely include or exclude major towns or cities. Irregular shape. Failure to use logical and major features like Interstate highways, rivers, or county lines to create borders. Poor compactness. Have you ever heard of anyone creating such a program? I've been thinking that redistricting could be something done by computer with a few inputs to guide the process. The overriding goal of computer drawn districts would be to avoid the very things you mention in your post: Split counties. Boundaries that just barely include or exclude major towns or cities. Irregular shape. Failure to use logical and major features like Interstate highways, rivers, or county lines to create borders. Poor compactness.

Have you ever heard of anyone creating such a program?

]]> By: MuzakBox http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7757 MuzakBox Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:56:05 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7757 I found this game where you learn to redistrict based on a number of increasingly more difficult factors very informative into how gerrymandering takes place. http://redistrictinggame.org/launchgame.php?level=basic&mission=1 I found this game where you learn to redistrict based on a number of increasingly more difficult factors very informative into how gerrymandering takes place.

http://redistrictinggame.org/launchgame.php?level=basic&mission=1

]]> By: Matthew http://www.ginandtacos.com/2008/03/19/anatomy-of-a-partisan-gerrymander/comment-page-1/#comment-7755 Matthew Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:34:47 +0000 http://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=848#comment-7755 I can tell that this is your particular field of interest, and believe me when I say that you make it sound much, much more fascinating than basically anyone else I've seen write about it. My idea for the solution is that every state should allow the minority party to oversee the drawing of districts. That way, if they're good, they'll take control and the other party will get to redraw them again. But I know it would never happen, alas. I can tell that this is your particular field of interest, and believe me when I say that you make it sound much, much more fascinating than basically anyone else I've seen write about it.

My idea for the solution is that every state should allow the minority party to oversee the drawing of districts. That way, if they're good, they'll take control and the other party will get to redraw them again. But I know it would never happen, alas.

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