This and absolutely this. We’ve completely ignored the idea of geographical regions having a common interest and bastardized the concept of districts into
shoving all of your opponents into one district that only gets one vote
slicing up areas that are dominated by friendlies into as many districts as possible
in competitive areas, try to shove your opponents into districts that are already lost to you and create narrow bridges through opposing districts linking friendly districts. Essentially, go on a walkabout through the state collecting votes.
There’s even a game you can play where you control redistricting for a hypothetical area. Given the same population, you can draw the maps such that election winners roughly match the proportions of voters, then to give full control to one side, then to give full control to the other side. The idea is to show you how the people who draw the maps can make voting irrelevant.
This and absolutely this. We’ve completely ignored the idea of geographical regions having a common interest and bastardized the concept of districts into
shoving all of your opponents into one district that only gets one vote
slicing up areas that are dominated by friendlies into as many districts as possible
in competitive areas, try to shove your opponents into districts that are already lost to you and create narrow bridges through opposing districts linking friendly districts. Essentially, go on a walkabout through the state collecting votes.
There’s even a game you can play where you control redistricting for a hypothetical area. Given the same population, you can draw the maps such that election winners roughly match the proportions of voters, then to give full control to one side, then to give full control to the other side. The idea is to show you how the people who draw the maps can make voting irrelevant.
In democracy voters pick the politicians. In the USA politicians pick the voters
“Corporate Managed Democracy” might more accurately describe the US.
I’m liking this phrase. It’s mine now. I stole it.
Capitalism baby!
Eh. It’s not a very good phrase. I’ll buy it from you for a dollar.
(Think fast. I have already printed 1000 tee-shirts.)