The Gerrymander
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The art of redistricting for political advantage
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Instead of voters choosing a politician, a politician chooses his voters
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A portmanteau combination of Gerry and Salamander
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Looks more like a dragon to me
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More chicanery than great art
By Elkanah Tisdale (1771-1835)
Gerrymander’s History
Elbridge Gerry 1744-1814
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Drafted the original gerrymander
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One of seven forgotten Vice Presidents to die in office
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Governor of Massachusetts
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Signer of the Declaration of Independence
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Helped draft bill of rights
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Only remembered today because of a political cartoon
This website Aspires to be St. George.
The animating ideas
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You cannot set up an unique mathematical solution which works well everywhere.
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The amendment aspires to set up a sure method to reach a very good solution.
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A would-be gerrymanderer must now come up with a better mathematical fit than his opponents, not just have a larger steamroller.
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A would-be gerrymandered can easily defend his own seat, but not easily defend his party’s seats. Every man for himself will create a better result than lining up the larger battallions.
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By analogy, this follows the superiority of Adam Smith to Karl Marx.
Que bono?
I have read (but cannot quote) that if all gerrymanders ended that Republicans would pick up 5-10 congressional seats. So Republicans
But, Democrats are currently complaining about Republican gerrymandering efforts. So Democrats
Independents would gain increased ability to sit at the fulcrum
All people would benefit from the end to the pettiness and skulduggery and the increased accountability of their public servants
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