Editor,
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion — via flyers, letters, and TV ads — about redistricting in both Texas and California. One key difference between the two states, however, seems to be missing from the conversation.
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Editor,
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion — via flyers, letters, and TV ads — about redistricting in both Texas and California. One key difference between the two states, however, seems to be missing from the conversation.
In Texas, the redistricting process was straightforward but politically controlled: the governor received a request from the president, consulted with the legislature, and the legislature — where Republicans hold the majority — passed new maps, which the governor promptly signed into law. Democratic legislators tried to block the move but lacked the numbers to succeed. The people of Texas were not given a direct vote.
In contrast, here in California, the process has included far more public involvement. After discussion with the legislature — where the Democrats hold the majority — a temporary redistricting map was proposed and now votes will have the opportunity to approve or reject it on the November ballot.
This is a major difference. In Texas, the legislature decided. In California, the people will decide.
It is surprising that individuals like Mr. Munger Jr., who claims to advocate for public decision making, haven’t spent similar amounts (if any) of money urging Republican lawmakers in Texas to give their voters the same opportunity.
If we truly care about democratic participation, this contrast deserves more attention.
Bill Surraco
Redwood City
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(2) comments
Bill Surraco’s letter oversimplifies the distinction between direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on issues like California’s proposed redistricting map, and a representative democratic republic, where elected officials, as in Texas, make such decisions on voters’ behalf. Both systems are democratic. Ironically, California’s Proposition 50, which Surraco’s view supports, would suspend this direct democratic process until 2031, ceding control and limiting voter input. Perhaps permanently. How can one reconcile championing voter input while endorsing a measure that silences it? California Democrats are already out of touch the average voter, and this proposition will make matters worse, not better for the party locally and nationally.
Nice try, Mr. Surraco, on repeating Democrat talking points to irrationally rationalize the threat to democracy known as Proposition 50. Unfortunately and as usual with Democrat talking points, they’re false and easily debunked. The true contrast is that everyone (even the ones who’d like to conveniently forget) knows there is a difference between Newsom’s antics and Texas’s redistricting. Texas lawmakers are pursuing new congressional maps following a directive from the DOJ asserting that current maps violate civil rights laws. There’s no such directive to California. If we truly care about democratic participation, this contrast deserves more attention.
Now that wannabe dictator Newsom has started a redistricting war, I believe Missouri is attempting to finalize their efforts to replace a Democrat seat with a Republican one. We can only hope all red states will retaliate against California’s retaliation. Have a Trump-tastic day!
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