Partisan Gerrymandering

[Torie]

My purpose here is very simple - to try to draw maps "better" or at least as well as those with the power to draw the maps, and have the votes, might draw them - all things considered.  If I had time, I would play with gutting the Pubbies in Illinois. But I don't these days, and to do it right takes a lot of work! Ohio took me about 40 hours - yes 40 hours.

And nobody here gerrymanders pretending it is anything else,at least of whom I am aware. And of course it is horrible public policy.  How could one argue otherwise? The districts should be drawn the way they are in Britain, and should really be drawn on a national basis to overcome provincialism. But obviously it is dumb for one state to unilaterally "disarm" while others continue to draw erose monsters.

Oh, and one other thing. The VRA sucks, and has long since outlasted its usefulness, and should be repealed.

Does anyone have any questions?

[Torie]

My purpose here is very simple - to try to draw maps "better" or at least as well as those with the power to draw the maps, and have the votes, might draw them - all things considered.  If I had time, I would play with gutting the Pubbies in Illinois. But I don't these days, and to do it right takes a lot of work! Ohio took me about 40 hours - yes 40 hours.

And nobody here gerrymanders pretending it is anything else,at least of whom I am aware. And of course it is horrible public policy.  How could one argue otherwise? The districts should be drawn the way they are in Britain, and should really be drawn on a national basis to overcome provincialism. But obviously it is dumb for one state to unilaterally "disarm" while others continue to draw erose monsters.

Oh, and one other thing. The VRA sucks, and has long since outlasted its usefulness, and should be repealed.

Does anyone have any questions?

Congratulations, you have offered a completely consistent position.

Here;s a question: why does the circulated Republican map in Michigan have a finger than that juts back into Wayne County? Why didn't they just swap some territory between the two Black-majority districts?

Well because if you mean MI-11 to equalize population, because the incumbent lives there, and because that territory goes from modest Dem PVI, to marginal to as high as about a 5-7 GOP PVI, that is why. Or do you mean something else? I am the guy to ask; I know this area now almost precinct by precinct.

The jut of MI-14 after entering Oakland back down south into Wayne to take in Redford probably was convenient to make both MI-14 and MI-13 over 50% black VAP, while avoiding otherwise illegal town splits to the extent one can comply with the VRA while not doing such splits.

[Torie]

Actually the Michigan map is a worse gerry than Illinois vis a vis each party's vote share. Is that because the Dems have a more robust "fairness" gene than Pubbies? No! It is because of the VRA, and because Hispanics and blacks are just not that turned on by being represented by white liberals. Pubbies don't have to "worry" about minority sensibilities much, since their ranks are rather "bleached" as it were.

I hope that clears it all up, and we can move on. Thanks.