Democracy's Demise?

Articles

Craig Chamberlain

Democracy's Demise?
Jan 8, 2004

It isn't often that I take the GOP to task over something. And I am certainly not oppossed to more republican congressman in the house. But I feel that what both parties are doing is disgusting.

Now keep in mind I am a staunch conservative, but I am disturbed at what I see. What am I talking about? Redisticting. Federal judges have approved redistrciting in Texas. Currently the house members from Texas are split 16-16(after congressmen Ralph Halls switching to the republicans). The new plan would give the GOP six new seats. making it 22-10 in favor of the republicans.

In retaliation the democrats in Illinois are planning a redrawing of the congressional lines that would eliminate many republican seats. I would like to ask a question. What happened to democracy? You know one man one vote? Why should the political parties get together and redraw lines to keep themselves in power?

In Dick Morris's new book "Off With Their Heads" he details the death of democracy in the house of repesenatives. That congressional districts are so uncompetitive that most congressmen win in landslides or run unopposed. Now I admit I am biased. I want more conservatives in Washington. That doesn't mean that I can't be objective.

What is happening is wrong.Lines shouldn't be drawn to reflect voter trends, demographics, or incumbency. Let the people decide. I don't support disenfranchising minority voters, let them vote. But I am against drawing lines that create minority districts. The House of Represenatives was created to be the most democratic body in the federal government. It is the least democratic now. No longer do they answer to the people. That is now the senates role, ironic sine they were created to be a body of elected aristocrats, albeit elected indirectly.The only reason that the senate remains competitive is because they can't redraw state lines, as Dick Morris so correctly points out.

It is time that we stop this nonsense. We need to let our politicians know that we are the ones who put them in washington and we can be the ones who take them out. Draw lines that actually create democracy. Iowa and Arizona are already doing it, it is time that the other states follow. These false districts need to be erased.

Whatever happened to by the people of the people and for the people?

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Email Craig Chamberlain: craig_chamberlain@hotmail.com

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