Sunday, December 07, 2003
In a democracy, we get what we want (I guess)
This from dawkins:
A great case for voting. (Or, why we're totally, irretrievably screwed.)
Jeffrey Toobin, in the December 8 New Yorker, articulately explains the nuances of gerrymandering. That is, how Republicans have managed to turn state assembly power into Congressional election stasis, and, in turn, national political hegemony.
The knee jerk reaction is that elections matter: from Presidential, to Senate, to Congressional, to state assembly, to city council, to county commission, to parish dog catcher.
Somewhat more disconcerting is the impression that all these elections, from the state level on up, thanks to the gerrymandering and redistricting machinations of Rove, DeLay et al, are already rigged.
Why are there no longer any close elections for House seats? Why are Republicans likely to hold sway, anti-competitively, over Congress for the foreseeable future?
Toobin's article sheds some light.
Blicero adds: Don't (like me) read it just before going to bed, unless you want your dreams to be assaulted by shockwaves of despair and anger.
posted by Blicero : 12/07/2003 01:50:00 AM
A great case for voting. (Or, why we're totally, irretrievably screwed.)
Jeffrey Toobin, in the December 8 New Yorker, articulately explains the nuances of gerrymandering. That is, how Republicans have managed to turn state assembly power into Congressional election stasis, and, in turn, national political hegemony.
The knee jerk reaction is that elections matter: from Presidential, to Senate, to Congressional, to state assembly, to city council, to county commission, to parish dog catcher.
Somewhat more disconcerting is the impression that all these elections, from the state level on up, thanks to the gerrymandering and redistricting machinations of Rove, DeLay et al, are already rigged.
Why are there no longer any close elections for House seats? Why are Republicans likely to hold sway, anti-competitively, over Congress for the foreseeable future?
Toobin's article sheds some light.
Blicero adds: Don't (like me) read it just before going to bed, unless you want your dreams to be assaulted by shockwaves of despair and anger.
posted by Blicero : 12/07/2003 01:50:00 AM
