- #1
Ganshauk
Redistrcting is a tried and true method for an incumbent majority party to try to maintain this majority. It involves grouping the voters into districts in such a way as to maximize the desired party affiliation across all the voting districts.
This is, inevitably, the first thing a party does when it first attains a majority in the legislature - both Democrats and Republicans do it and have always done it.
This morning saw a new twist in the Texas legislature. The Democrats, unable to bear the same policies which they themselves have used, fled to Oklahoma in a body. This effectively closed down legislature and forced the shelving of the redistricting bill.
I must admit, the strategy is brilliant and effective. However, I feel obliged to point out a few problems.
1. This tactic circumvents the constitution's stipulation of majority rule. In effect, a small minority has asserted it's will over the majority - a dangerous and destructive precedence.
2. This tactic not only shelved the redistricting bill, but everything else that was slated for this session as well - much of which is desperately needed in order to maintain education, public health, tax and insurance reformation, ect, ect.
3. The party, as a whole, is being smeared in popular opinions as whining little brats who are throwing a childish temper tantrum because they didn't get what they want. They seem willing to destroy our government over this - blackmailing the entire state. This will kill any chances they had of ever recovering their losses from the last election but they don't seem to mind. They seem perfectly willing to take the government down with their own political careers. Nevermind their responsibility and duty.
If they remained in Texas, the law would allow them to be forcibly hauled into the session and vote. That is why they went out of state. IMHO, this is the shabbiest, lowest behavior I have ever heard of by an entire political party in the US.
But then again, these are the same people who always condemn the "Love it or leave it" attitude of true Americans. It seems they finally listened to our advice after all :) If I had my way, they would not be allowed back and their abscence would simply be recorded as "abstentions".
This is, inevitably, the first thing a party does when it first attains a majority in the legislature - both Democrats and Republicans do it and have always done it.
This morning saw a new twist in the Texas legislature. The Democrats, unable to bear the same policies which they themselves have used, fled to Oklahoma in a body. This effectively closed down legislature and forced the shelving of the redistricting bill.
I must admit, the strategy is brilliant and effective. However, I feel obliged to point out a few problems.
1. This tactic circumvents the constitution's stipulation of majority rule. In effect, a small minority has asserted it's will over the majority - a dangerous and destructive precedence.
2. This tactic not only shelved the redistricting bill, but everything else that was slated for this session as well - much of which is desperately needed in order to maintain education, public health, tax and insurance reformation, ect, ect.
3. The party, as a whole, is being smeared in popular opinions as whining little brats who are throwing a childish temper tantrum because they didn't get what they want. They seem willing to destroy our government over this - blackmailing the entire state. This will kill any chances they had of ever recovering their losses from the last election but they don't seem to mind. They seem perfectly willing to take the government down with their own political careers. Nevermind their responsibility and duty.
If they remained in Texas, the law would allow them to be forcibly hauled into the session and vote. That is why they went out of state. IMHO, this is the shabbiest, lowest behavior I have ever heard of by an entire political party in the US.
But then again, these are the same people who always condemn the "Love it or leave it" attitude of true Americans. It seems they finally listened to our advice after all :) If I had my way, they would not be allowed back and their abscence would simply be recorded as "abstentions".