Gerrymandering of districts has been practiced with equal effect by both parties, and is a great example of local/state political gymnastics in aid of National party politics.Originally posted by clocker@28 June 2003 - 22:41
After the spectacularly successful Republican efforts at gerrymandering state voting districts ( with substantial White House support), I have little reason to trust my state government either.
I would be all for Federal oversight of public works. The Federal government managed to create the Interstate highway system after all.
To see a grahic example of how states have mishandled their duties just witness the change in pavement conditions as you go from Nebraska to Colorado on I-76.
I deplore this tactic, no matter which party practices it; but-how to get back to any sensible construct? Outlawing the tactic at this stage would cause big problems.
You can foment trust in your state government by voting intelligently and being a big-mouth about waste on the state level; it's much more effective than a letter to the Feds.
If voters vote ignorantly or irresponsibly, they deserve what they get, i.e., crappy pavement.
Engaging the system on the state level works; I did it-I had state senators and reps calling me at home, at work, you name it-ironically, it also cost me my Civil Service job, as I pissed off former Governor John Engler.
The Interstate highway system is an example of proper Federal purview; however, I don't see a federal rep having the same degree of familiarity with a local project as a state rep-likewise I don't see you being as familiar with the federal rep as you might be with the state rep.
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