http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/gerrymandering/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

"Gerrymandering is a form of boundary delimitation (redistricting) in which electoral district or constituency boundaries are deliberately modified for electoral purposes, thereby producing a contorted or unusual shape. The resulting district is known as a gerrymander; however, that word can also refer to the process.

Gerrymandering may be used to achieve desired electoral results for a particular party, or may be used to help or hinder a particular group of constituents, such as a political, racial, linguistic, religious or class group.

When used to allege that a given party is gaining disproportionate power, the term gerrymandering has negative connotations. However, a gerrymander may also be used for purposes that some perceive as positive, notably in US federal voting district boundaries which produce a proportion of constituencies with an African-American or other minority in the majority (these are thus called "minority-majority districts")."


I knew of this.... but I don't think any of us know just how much it is used by the political system.

I think you should do a quick read of that wiki page at least.... to understand what this is so that when most of you guys are old enough to vote you understand more about the political system than you do now.

Thoughts, opinions?!?

From what I've read, the US constitution neither restricts the use of, or forces states to divide themselves into districts (only that a census be taken every 10 years and then representatives are added or subtracted from the states as a whole). I don't know if this was an oversight by our founders or if they thought that other forces would keep it in check, but I believe something must be done about it nonetheless. I would propose outlawing the districts all together, to prevent additional influence over election results. The states can find some other way to elect representatives without the use of district boundaries.

By extension, I also believe the electoral college should be abolished because it can create rounding errors.