CenterlineRight: Gerrymander This!!

There is no shortage of media material these days…the Texas Republican effort at redistricting is certainly right near the top of the attention list. I often use the term “we get the government we deserve” and in the case of this particular Texas story, that phrase is aptly applied. The SCOTUS has made it pretty clear that federal Congressional district boundaries are within the purview of individual state legislatures. Given multiple chances to intervene in previous episodes of this type, they have consistently deferred. There is no reason to suspect this time will be any different. The end of the story is entirely predictable…the intrigue lies in how we get there.

I will say this before getting to the coverage of this issue…both political parties have plied the gerrymandering trade for decades. The Democrats have done more of it and have been better at it, but that does not excuse the Republicans from their similar efforts. The simple fact is that like many things political, this is simply another trick of the trade where the Republicans are playing catch-up. The bad news for the Democrats is that once the battle has been fully joined (like NOW), their strategic lead in this contest is mitigated by the fact that they have far less to gain from these fields they have often plowed. The Republicans have far more uncultivated acres. The gap is fixing to narrow.

Gerrymandering, taken to its extreme of bizarre district shapes and splitting of communities, is one of the more unsavory political practices. However, being unsavory has never truly disqualified a political pursuit, has it? I will say this: If we are going to continue to live with the practice of gerrymandering, then I would suggest two ground rules. The feasibility and manner in which these proposed ground rules might be applied is up for debate.

First off, gerrymandering should only be conducted once during each ten-year census cycle. Without this guidance in place, the process simply has no credibility. Secondly…while acknowledging that when this action occurs should clearly fall under the auspices of the affected state legislature; I would suggest that a window of opportunity be established. Once the official census data is published, there should be a period of time…two to four years…during which redistricting would be permitted. Once that window closes, redrawing those boundary lines should have to wait until the subsequent census is conducted. Revenge might be a dish best served cold…but a decent meal is always more palatable when it is served hot or warm. If we are going to engage in this exercise, we can at a minimum establish a ground rule or two to retain some semblance of reason.