Democracy by Lunacy
Republicans gained 43 seats in the House of Representatives in the 2010 election, the largest swing in any midterm election since 1938. The gerrymandered redistricting that caused this packs Republicans into homogeneous districts and disperses Democrats into districts where they are a substantial minority.
In 2012, the Republicans created a disproportionate advantage in 10 states which renders the party balance in those states ineffective. In these 10 states, an average 7% vote in favor of Republicans translated into a 76% advantage for them in the number of Congressmen sent to the House. This is why even though 1.4 million more votes were cast for Democrats in the 2012 House elections, Republicans gained a 33-seat advantage.
We all know what happened in 2016. A natural progression.
The Tea Party representatives don't have to depend on mainstream Republican Party leaders for anything, they are almost assured of re-election in their mutant districts if they continue to have a heartbeat. Additionally, they threaten the seats of "moderate" Republicans simply because they have the freedom to challenge moderate views without consequence to themselves.
There's another census in 2020. That's only four years from now. Demographic projections for gains and losses affecting representation and shifts in the electoral college are already out there. Google Images "worst gerrymandering" and take a look at the psychotic, criminally discriminatory way our congressional districts are drawn. I call your attention specifically to FLA-5 and -22, MD-3, NC-12, and IL-4, which is split into two halves connected by an uninhabited highway median strip.
Nothing will change unless we take the redistricting power away from state legislatures and give it to independent commissions, like the one in California and only twelve other states...this needs to be made into a major issue in STATE elections.
All politics is local.
As much as we may fear and dislike Donald Trump, Steve Bannon et al., and their cabal now ensconced at the federal level, the only effective way to stop them is to use the tools of democracy we have at hand, and have always had.
Nothing will change otherwise. We are wasting our time.
Paraphrased with my personal opinions from the following excellent sites:
www.brennancenter.org/analysis/7-things-know-about-redistricting
mic.com/articles/68423/what-caused-the-2013-government-shutdown-redistricting
www.centerforpolitcs.org/crystalball/atricles/updated-2020-reapportionment-projections/
www.mapamendment.org
