LISTEN UP! Gerrymandering, Gerrymandering, Gerrymandering!

[ChiciB1]

I thought I would use this as a subject line! Today on C-Span there was a woman who was talking about the DIFFICULTY Democrats are going to have in taking over Congress in EITHER House!

It's Gerrymandering from 2000! I've been talking about this for some time now. In 1994, there were about 100 seats in the House up for grabs, but this time around because of gerrymandering, there are only about 36!

So people, I would say it's going to be an uphill battle even with the BEST of circumstances!!

We MUST do something besides sit here and blog our way to 2006! I've made my case about getting active many times, but it falls on deaf ears, so I don't know WHAT we can do! I've already taken the word HOPE out of my vocabulary because it just doesn't apply, sorry!

We're going to be so screwed if we can't get some action going! OUR leaders aren't going to help us much, plus we have a fractured Democratic Party! Between DLC and DNC... we've got some HIGH climbing to do. And before you tell me to get active locally... well I have... I LIVE in Cruella country, she my Representative and it SUCKS BIG TIME! Florida SUCKS BIG TIME, so I don't have too many options. I would like to see us organize for a MARCH in D.C around late September, but that's NOT going to happen. I had thought if we could get some kind of thing going that wasn't too abrasive that maybe THIS time they would cover it. We don't need 15 different sub-texts with the march, just something that would be all inclusive, however even here too many have nixed the idea completely... so ANY ideas???

[AX10]

1. Democrats need a strong campaign, unity,

high voter turnout, etc.....still it's going to be hard to win back the House because of gerrymandering.

[IndyOp]

2. Gerrymandering is *not* just a census-year event anymore -

Republicans have been re-drawing districts all over the nation to make them 'more fair' -- in any damn year they feel like it. Our local districts were re-drawn LAST YEAR - 2005 and *not* on the basis of census results.

Want to get even angrier? Watch the ACLU video: < http://www.aclu.tv/vote >


And then SUPPORT THE ACLU - they've filed dozens (and dozens) of lawsuits re: Gerrymandering
<http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/redistricting/index.html>

Appeals Court Sides With Native American Voters in South Dakota (05/05/2006)
PIERRE, SD -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded an appeals court decision in favor of Native Americans who say that the city of Martin violated the Voting Rights Act by drawing districts that dilute the voting strength of Native Americans.

ACLU Asks Court to Block Unconstitutional Election Plan in Montana (08/04/2005)
BILLINGS, MT -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of voters who say that the election plan for the city council is disproportionately drawn and dilutes the voting strength of thousands of citizens. The ACLU charges that the plan violates the ""one person, one vote"" principle of the U.S. Constitution, and is asking the court for a more equitable districting plan.

ACLU Charges South Dakota County Blocking Native Americans from Holding Public Office (01/27/2005)
CHARLES MIX COUNTY, SD--The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit charging the Charles Mix County Commission with violating Native American voting rights by using election districts that are unequal in population and divide the Native American community.

Federal Court Rules South Dakota Violated Voting Rights of Native Americans (09/15/2004)
PIERRE, SD-In an historic victory for voting rights, a federal court today ruled that South Dakota violated the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act when it approved a statewide redistricting plan that dilutes the voting power of Native Americans.

[CrispyQ]

3. I think people are still too comfortable

to sacrifice their time for activism. It's going to have to get much worse before people start calling their representatives, contributing their time to a local dem group, or march on DC. I worry by the time it gets that bad it will be too late. See, I have no hope either. :cry:

Off to re-read the toon threads. ;)

[ChiciB1]

6. Feels Kind Of Lonesome, Huh??

Even IF people are still too comfortable, DOING NOTHING is worse! We should have pushed hard a long time ago, and NOW time is sooooooooo short!

I just WISH we could DO SOMETHING before NOVEMBER! I HAVE NO ANSWERS! Working locally in my county is almost as bad as sitting still and blogging just like I am!

This is a county that has LOTS AND LOTS of people with money! Not me, but THEY do and they like it this way! Sorry, but that old saying "you can't fight City Hall" is just how I feel living here!

We have ES&S voting machine with no paper and I even worked on getting petitions signed FOR a paper ballot. Even then I wasn't sure that was the answer! But it was the ONLY election reform option open here!

[JNelson6563]

4. Build each county paty

make 'em strong and autonomous and Voila! Gerrymander-proof!

Julie

[ChiciB1]

5. Well, You Are Certainly Welcome To Come Here To THIS

county and BUILD that party. It's only about 4 or 5 to 1 in favor of the Repukes! I have trouble getting people involved WITH anything!

I've lived in this county for over 25 years and I can't REMEMBER when it was close to being Democrat. In fact, I wonder if there have been more than 5 Democrats elected to ANYTHING here in those 25 years. I can't say that I know, but LOCALLY... Geeeeezzzz!

BTW, sorry I left my thread earlier, had an emergency for several hours!

[JNelson6563]

7. That's how it was here

Lemme tell ya though, after a few years of really hard work, what a world of difference! Do you have an actual county party there?

Julie

[ChiciB1]

8. Sure We Do... But THINK Real DINO!

I live in Florida, in Cruella's district! I've gone to meetings and mostly what I get out of them are suggestions about ANOTHER meeting. I want action! I want someone to come WITH ME to get ACTIVE!

If you think the Democrats in Congress aren't doing much, try here for a while! It's almost laughable!!

I tried the Greens to see if THEY were more active... NOT!!

[JNelson6563]

9. It's easy to take over a county party

but the first thing you must do is find like-minded souls. Know any? What about neighboring county parties? Any good ones?

Julie

[ChiciB1]

10. Been Searching... Been Looking... We Have A Small Group

of college kids who are active, but they aren't always here. They are the only ones I've run into that have any "fire in the belly!"

It IS pretty sad!

[guidod]

11. You're right, we have to do something!

Look at how the Hispanic Americans got together with their marches on immigration. I think we have to use our phones a lot more and start yelling at the DNC, Howard Dean and our Congressinal Reps., they need to start spending the money they say they have. If anybody can come up with a huge march in Washington D.C. complaining about our own, so called liberal, Reps. I'll be there. I'm handicapped and use a cane and a small cart but I promise I'll be there. I think it's time to start attacking OUR OWN LEADERS. , instead of the repukes right now. I think we're going in the wrong direction. We should be holding our demmocratic leaders feet to the fire. This is NOT working!

That is a very good post you made, thanks. :toast: