Liberal Talk Radio

Now folks, y’all know that Fair Districts is a key element of Bruno & the Prof’s political reform agenda. To read why, check out the libertarian Cato Institute study.

But I’ve always wondered how we go about setting up metrics for building these independent districts. Iowa has a model which seems to work, but Iowa’s a relatively small, uniform state.

Today, via Bull Moose, I’m reading a WaPo editorial which gets at the heart of the matter:

One major driver of polarization is not rooted in unavoidable change: This is the scandalous way in which electoral districts are drawn for the House of Representatives and state legislatures. The redistricting triggered periodically by the census has become an opportunity for party leaders to create politically homogenous districts that ensure incumbents’ re-election and remove incumbents’ incentive to represent the political center.

So it got me thinking. Why not kill two birds with one stone? As is becoming apparent, the red/blue divide in America is increasingly a rural/urban divide. So to ensure a moderate, competitive House of Representatives, why not create districts that draw equally from rural and urban areas? Could you make that happen? Seems like a tall order, but it just might work. It would make for some wonky looking districts, that’s for sure.

In any event, it opens up a deep philosophical conversation on “what constitutes a district.” Which leads to “how to accurately represent a citizenry in government.” Which leads to all sorts of stuff. Do you group people by geographic region? By cultural affinity? By sports team? The more one tries to make a “fair” district,” the more elusive it becomes.