Obama '08?

@realjohnboy,

Quote:

The census does determine how political districts are redrawn

Would you care to rephrase that? Political hacks using computers programed to gerrymander the desired electoral outcome determine how political districts are redrawn.

1 Reply

@realjohnboy,

hmm.. i don't understand your issue here, rjb. how are they going to do that, via census, without asking for party affiliation?

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@hawkeye10,

Okay. Based on the census data, political hacks do the gerrymandering.
Sloppy writing on my part. Thanks for the slap-down.

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I believe they might use the population numbers to determine congressional seats -- as in how many each state gets. If your state's population increased you might pick up another seat. But I don't think the census has any impact on where the congressional district lines are drawn.

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@FreeDuck,

that sounds logical to me.

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@FreeDuck,

FreeDuck, That's what they essentially do, but here's how California has developed its congressional districts.

Quote:

Proposition 11 passed November 4, 2008 stated that the California state legislature retained responsibility for drawing the state's Congressional districts. It added the requirement that the state legislature: 1) comply with the federal Voting Rights Act, 2) make districts contiguous, 3) respect, to the extent possible, the integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and "communities of interest", and 4) to the extent possible, make districts compact. Several of these terms are not defined in law. The proposition requires that the legislature, along with the map of district boundaries, include a report with the definitions and standards used to create the map.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed placing the redistricting process in the hands of retired judges, which was on the November ballot as an initiative in a special election (called by the Governor on June 14, 2005), Proposition 77. The special election was held on November 8, 2005. However, the initiative was overwhelmingly defeated, with 59.5% No votes. All initiatives, including those proposed by the Governor's allies and several independent initiatives, failed.

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I am quite sure that, in Virginia, each of our members of the U.S. House of Representatives has an about equal number of people in his/her district, as determined by the census every 10 years. The gerrymandering goes on to include or exclude pockets of support or opposition.
For many years, I and the few black folks who lived on the ridge above me were probably the only Dems in our precinct. About 100 of us.
But the suburbs came our way.
In due course the people on the ridge got put into a more rural district where their votes would have less of an impact. I became one of the lone Dem's for awhile. No more.
The census asks nothing about political affiliation. But the demographics (age, race, etc) give a big clue.

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@realjohnboy,

Getting back to the charge by okie that the census takers will somehow make a difference on congressional districts only proves his ignorance on yet another issue about politics.

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@realjohnboy,

Quote:

The census asks nothing about political affiliation. But the demographics (age, race, etc) give a big clue.

Census is done by address, those addresses are plugged into maps of the results the last few rounds of elections to determine the likely political leanings of a person of that address. Election results are tallied for a small geographic area, such as a precinct or ward, making the guess of the politics of a particular address a highly educated (accurate) guess.

Quote:

A 2004 survey by the United States Election Assistance Commission reported an average precinct size in the United States of approximately 1,100 registered voters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precinct
The demographics are used in gerrymandering , but to a lesser degree.

1 Reply

@hawkeye10,

I don't see how this relates to congressional districts.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

You should do some research to inform yoursdelf. The census is the basis for the apportioning of Congressional districts among states. Moreover it has also become a vehicle, exploited by both parties (whichever happens to be in the majoority), to misuse fair election laws by gerrymandering their districts into safe seats from which they can make a career in Congress.

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@georgeob1,

I think the solution to that, though, is to have district lines drawn by independent, non-political agencies, not to just not count people.

1 Reply

@georgeob1,

georgeob1 wrote:

You should do some research to inform yoursdelf. The census is the basis for the apportioning of Congressional districts among states. Moreover it has also become a vehicle, exploited by both parties (whichever happens to be in the majoority), to misuse fair election laws by gerrymandering their districts into safe seats from which they can make a career in Congress.

I think it's safe to say that, this is one issue in which both parties are equally and totally scummy on.

Cycloptichorn

1 Reply

@Cycloptichorn,

In California, the state legislature determines congressional districts - in accordance with federal guidelines. Don't forget, Gov Ahnold tried to get judges to determine congressional districts, but failed.

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@FreeDuck,

FreeDuck wrote:

I think the solution to that, though, is to have district lines drawn by independent, non-political agencies, not to just not count people.

Sounds like Aesop's fable of the mice belling the cat. Where will we find "independent, non political agencies" ? If we find one, will it remain that way?

Plato's philosopher kings don't exist either. The illusions of self-styled progressive reformers are almost always based on the assumption that such people exist (or that they themselves are - and will remain - above the failings of human nature).

Your solution doesn't exist.

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@georgeob1,

Must agree with georgeob here; there ain't no such animal as "non-political."

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@georgeob1,

georgeob1 wrote:

You should do some research to inform yoursdelf. The census is the basis for the apportioning of Congressional districts among states. Moreover it has also become a vehicle, exploited by both parties (whichever happens to be in the majoority), to misuse fair election laws by gerrymandering their districts into safe seats from which they can make a career in Congress.

Yes, and I also understand that heavily democratic areas can be exaggerated using census data to possibly increase the number of seats. Contrary to the accusations of ci and others, I did not pull this out of thin air, politicians are hard at work attempting to bolster their political power. I believe that is why they are attempting to enlist ACORN to help with the census.

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@okie,

Here is an article about ACORN and the census. I believe Obama is attempting to politicize the census, a very dangerous thing if he can get by with it.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623459227366517.html

1 Reply

@okie,

okie, How do you think ACORN is going to fudge population numbers that's equivalent to a congressional district?

You made the charge, now provide the answers.

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@cicerone imposter,

Its called cheating and exaggerating, ci. Besides, what about illegals, are those counted as citizens, or what? There are a million ways to cheat, and if you have a group that has first a political agenda instead of the real agenda of simply counting people, that group will find ways to get the answers they prefer. I am surprised that you ask such dumb questions. Actually not surprised anymore.

1 Reply

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