Raging about gerrymandering sells it, despite its downsides
When Dems get bent out of shape about Republican racial and partisan gerrymandering, it only makes Republicans want to do it more. They think they're onto something if it makes us unhappy. We should focus more on the downsides to gerrymandering. Here are a couple.
First, a red light doesn't stop cars; brakes stop cars. If everyone thought that a traffic signal in their neighborhood was cheatingly designed to make the commute faster for one of the two intersecting roads, everyone would ignore the traffic signal. You couldn't count on people stopping for red lights anymore. And it wouldn't be safe to drive through green lights. Gerrymandering gives seats to people who don't deserve them, and the laws they make won't be respected.
Second, gerrymandering distorts geographic location, destabilizing its role in defining communities, townships, neighborhoods, and real estate values. It's like rezoning on steroids. You put down roots, but, because both the left and right can legally gerrymander, you can't count on stability. Your district can move away from you, then move back, then be dissolved. Your home, business, and voice in government fluctuates on the whim of politicians.
We need Republicans to realize that winning seats by gerrymandering isn't winning. To do that, they need to be focused on something other than liberal tears, which they like. They need to see reasons for both sides to eliminate gerrymandering.
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