What the H%LL Is a Gerrymander?

     The word gerrymander has roots that can be traced all the way back to the early 1800's, where it came to be known as a sneaky strategic move made by politicians to keep power within their own political party. While the origins of gerrymandering go way back, the practice of it is still alive and well. Although the history of gerrymandering is relevant, it is not important to the basis of this argument. What is important is the purpose behind gerrymandering and the benefits it provides to the ones that are using it.

     In simplest terms, gerrymandering is the redrawing of election districts in a way that it favors whichever party that the one who is doing the drawing belongs to. The two goals of gerrymandering are to maximize the effect of supporters' votes, and to minimize the effect of opponents' votes. This seems to be a very sneaky tactic used to gain and control power. How can this be going on you ask?

     I would think something like this would be very illegal, but unfortunately it is legal to do this. But can there be a way that instead of favoring any given political party it favors the nation and its people. It is often said that we give our politicians too much power but I don’t remember giving anybody anything in the least that resembled power.  So why is it they have what seems to be this divine power to do with what they like? If in fact we gave this power to our representatives, I think it’s time we take the power back.

     Some states have begun this striping of authority from certain politicians and giving it to non-partisan redistricting commissions. By doing this, these states are insuring that the election districts stay as equal as can be and do not a favor any one political party or candidate. While some states are jumping on board, we as a nation need all the states to be on the same page in order for our social and economic systems to thrive in a world that is hungry for change and progress.