This November there will be a proposition on the ballot to change the way our political Districts are drawn. Instead of having our incumbent Representatives (for state and Congress) choose who gets to vote for them, Districts would be defined by an independent body not concerned with forming “safe” Districts that reelect incumbents almost all the time. Instead of concentrating on guaranteeing the continuation of their employment, perhaps then the Representatives would have to deal with problems, issues, and the desires of their voters. At least there would be more of a chance of this happening.
I would feel more like taking an interest in who’s running for office and deciding who to vote for, if I thought it made any difference what I did. Now, it won’t make any difference how I vote, since the outcome is determined and known in advance based on the whimsical composition of the District.
In the continuing and growing efforts to restore our democracy and governments to the control of citizens and voters, neutralizing the power of political Representatives to further their own interests instead of listening to and acting for their voters, is a major issue. One that will help restore governmental power to where it was intended; to us, the voters.
Ernie Shifflett
