Gerry Mander is Alive and Well at SCOTUS
Myrmidonisia
28-06-2006, 18:08
The Supremes have ruled that a State Legislature can adjust district boundaries at any time. This really puts the authority back where it belongs -- the Statehouse. Redistricting is one of those consequences of an election. The winners get to choose.
Read about it at Yahoo!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_texas_redistricting_10
Ginnoria
28-06-2006, 18:10
Oh, ho ho ho. Well, bully for Mr. Mander. :p
Kaukaban
28-06-2006, 18:13
Gee, I always thought redistricting was the consequence of a census. Silly me.
Myrmidonisia
28-06-2006, 18:20
Gee, I always thought redistricting was the consequence of a census. Silly me.
It is, but it can be done in the between years, as well. The only difference is that, now we can see redistricting whenever the majority changes instead of reflecting the majority every ten years.
The Black Forrest
28-06-2006, 18:20
You favor a ruling that supports Republicans? I am just shocked!
Teh_pantless_hero
28-06-2006, 18:21
You favor a ruling that supports Republicans? I am just shocked!
Flabbergasted even.
East Canuck
28-06-2006, 18:23
You favor a ruling that supports Republicans? I am just shocked!
What? There is gambling in this establishment? ;)
The Black Forrest
28-06-2006, 18:25
What? There is gambling in this establishment? ;)
A brownie for spotting the reference! :D
Myrmidonisia
28-06-2006, 18:25
You favor a ruling that supports Republicans? I am just shocked!
It certainly supports Republicans in Texas, but it will equally support Democrats in California or New York, won't it? But then we know that no Democrat would ever gerrymander a district, don't we?
Kecibukia
28-06-2006, 18:32
It certainly supports Republicans in Texas, but it will equally support Democrats in California or New York, won't it? But then we know that no Democrat would ever gerrymander a district, don't we?
*cough* CHICAGO *cough*
Keruvalia
28-06-2006, 18:42
Well ok then. Let's just redraw the districts whenever we bloody well feel like it so that nobody ever knows where to go vote. People are much easier to control when they can't find the polling places.
The ability to redistrict willy-nilly allows the majority power to *stay* the majority power in perpetuity. How, exactly, is that Constitutional?!
SCOTUS really dropped the ball on this one.
Myrmidonisia
28-06-2006, 18:42
*cough* CHICAGO *cough*
Or even just Georgia. We had a little corridor running out I-16 from Macon to Savannah that was just as wide as the interstate. Not many voters lived in the medians or on the shoulders, as far as I remember. But that's the way it is.