Thanks for donating to two of my elected officials here in Michigan. Both Slotkin and Rivet flipped the first seats they ran for - Slotkin for the US Congress seat in mid-Michigan formerly held by Mike Rogers and Rivet for a long-time Republican state senate seat in Saginaw, Bay, and Midland counties. They’re great candidates.
I’m proud of the fact that we solved the terrible gerrymandering in Michigan back in 2018 through a great grassroots org called Voters Not Politicians. Now an independent commission draws our election maps rather than whatever party happens to be in power. Other states should try it, even Democratic ones like Illinois and Maryland.
But who selects the members of the commission? I see a problem in getting true impartiality in this divided country. Best might be some machine algorithm flexible enough to adjust for shifting population changes over say five year intervals.
Good question! They're selected at random from pools of candidates representing Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The final commission is 4 Dems, 4 Republicans, 5 Independents. There was initially some concern about partisans posing as independents, but I believe they have processes to ensure the candidates represent the group they say they do. https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2021-01-28/behind-the-curtain-on-michigans-redistricting-process
Good for you, Sam. Good intelligent decisions. I hate voter partisanship generally, but voter apathy is even worse. Our whole voting system is fatally flawed with the Electoral College and the Senate being exhibits A and B. How else could a numerically smaller party have managed to retain parity over the decades?
One last comment given you have an international readership: Might it not be a good idea if we allowed the international community of nations have a small say in our leadership positions? After all, what America, Russia or China do effects everyone. We would cede a little sovereignty true. But remember, we would gain a say in their leadership in return! I vote to cast out Putin!
Sounds outlandish now as when I proposed it a good 16 years ago, but think about it!
Thanks for donating to two of my elected officials here in Michigan. Both Slotkin and Rivet flipped the first seats they ran for - Slotkin for the US Congress seat in mid-Michigan formerly held by Mike Rogers and Rivet for a long-time Republican state senate seat in Saginaw, Bay, and Midland counties. They’re great candidates.
Thank you! Wow, you're in Michigan - you and your neighbors are among the most important folks in the world right now.
I’m proud of the fact that we solved the terrible gerrymandering in Michigan back in 2018 through a great grassroots org called Voters Not Politicians. Now an independent commission draws our election maps rather than whatever party happens to be in power. Other states should try it, even Democratic ones like Illinois and Maryland.
Absolutely!
But who selects the members of the commission? I see a problem in getting true impartiality in this divided country. Best might be some machine algorithm flexible enough to adjust for shifting population changes over say five year intervals.
Good question! They're selected at random from pools of candidates representing Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The final commission is 4 Dems, 4 Republicans, 5 Independents. There was initially some concern about partisans posing as independents, but I believe they have processes to ensure the candidates represent the group they say they do. https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2021-01-28/behind-the-curtain-on-michigans-redistricting-process
That seems about 95% foolproof. But the Republicans are grandmasters at gaming even ostensibly neutral systems.
Good for you, Sam. Good intelligent decisions. I hate voter partisanship generally, but voter apathy is even worse. Our whole voting system is fatally flawed with the Electoral College and the Senate being exhibits A and B. How else could a numerically smaller party have managed to retain parity over the decades?
One last comment given you have an international readership: Might it not be a good idea if we allowed the international community of nations have a small say in our leadership positions? After all, what America, Russia or China do effects everyone. We would cede a little sovereignty true. But remember, we would gain a say in their leadership in return! I vote to cast out Putin!
Sounds outlandish now as when I proposed it a good 16 years ago, but think about it!