Resist! Fight Gerrymandering

Today, more than ever, the toxic environment in our halls of government is reaching epic proportions. Republicans refuse to work with Democrats and Democrats refuse to trust Republicans.

Additionally, according to polling done by Gallup the first week of March 2017, Congress has only a 24% approval rating.  (Gallup)  Knowing these simple facts, it would stand to reason that at election time, the voting public would act decisively to, as the saying goes, “Vote the bums out”.  So stark is this dislike of Congress that in January of 2013, surveys done by Public Policy Polling found that Congress has a lower favorability rating than cockroaches, root canals and head lice. Even having a colonoscopy was more likeable than Congress. 

Strangely, but commonly known, the re-election rate of incumbents is staggeringly high. According to Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, the most recent Congressional election saw a higher than average re-election rate for incumbents. (Kondik) Clearly, there is an enormous disconnect between this government of the people and by the people and the democratic process. This disconnect is well known and it is a threat to not just civil discourse, but is also a serious threat to American democracy. 

Our nation, and more particularly, our state, has a problem. Our form of government, a representative democracy, depends on the participation of the people being governed. Elections are intended to give the voters an opportunity to self govern through representatives. 

At the core of this toxic political environment is Gerrymandering. Where politicians select their voters rather than the voters selecting their politicians. This corruption of our democracy has to end and it has to begin at the grassroots level. 
What you can do. 
Get involved in actively resisting Gerrymandering.   How can you do that? 
This coming Wednesday, at the City Council's Community Affairs Committee, we will hear proposal 285, which urges the Indiana legislature to adopt a fair process for drawing political district maps. 
oin with other Hoosiers to support a City County Council Resolution urging the Indiana Legislature to abaondon gerrymandering districts and adopt a citizen led, independent redistricting commission or other fair way to redistrict. 
If our City Council Passes Proposal 285, we will join Anderson, Bloomington, Carmel, Crawfordsville, Greencastle, Kokomo, Layfayette, Michigan City, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Muncie, New Castle, South Bend, Tippecanoe County, West Lafayette, Valparaiso, Vanderburg County and Vincennes.

The issue of gerrymandered districts is abhorred by Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and anyone who hopes that elections will represent the will of the People. 
Please plan to attend this meeting and show your support for fair elections.