Redistricting What is the best way to go about redistricting in representative districts in the states? Frist and foremost this is a question that is hard to answer as any system that is run by politics must deal with the human factor. However, redistricting is part of the political process in this country that must be carried out. In this essay I will look at the ultimate goals of redistricting, who should draw the lines, and why the question of the best answer is one that is impossible. The ultimate goal of redistricting like most other concepts in American politics is to keep everything fair. In that it is to redraw the lines of congressional districts so that there is as close to equal groups of minorities to hopefully ensure that minority groups will be properly represented in the government. This is a complicated issue however cause as we have seen in class and in our readings minorities are still largely underrepresented regardless of how well you can look at a state’s districts and see the evenly dispersed minority groups. The simulation that we worked on in class did show that regardless of how realistically our groups chose to draw the new districts (not using the reform model) these lines are not exactly drawn with the people in mind or with their best interest at heart. That brings me to the next point, who should draw the lines? Again this is a question like what is the best form of redistricting is a question that can only be answered in the hypothetical. First regardless of who should be responsible for this is irrelevant because it has already been put in to the hands of the legislatures of each state. Allowing their say in the matter all but assures the lines will be drawn in the best interest of the people running for office and not the people at large. This would seem to be a very cynical way of looking at the question, but the key drive for a politician is to remain in office or to seek higher office. Having that in mind why would any politician agree to draw lines that would put their career in jeopardy. In the simulation I believed it was quite appropriate that when a district was drawn that did not favor one of the given representatives a good chance at reelection their cartoon would act like a five year old I think that was a very telling sign. Seeing this and as we talked about in class the best way to see bipartisanship at work is in redistricting. It becomes an issue that the differing parties can agree on because like I said early the biggest issue for politicians is remaining in power. Looking at it this way if one was just thinking who would be the best to draw the lines the answer would have to be an independent committee who then passes their new guidelines on to the court to up hold. It would also be important that legislative approval not be used as a way to keep party politics and ambitions of politician at check. To conclude since redistricting has become a focal point of national and state politics on paper many of the districts do appear to be drawn in a way that would show that the system is working. The problem being that most issues look as if they were handled in an appropriate manner in American politics while still managing to do any actual real good for the purpose they were set up. Looking at how minorities are represented at the state and national level show that either these groups are apathetic to what is going on and their voice in the process, or that savvy politicians with their survival in mind have drawn these lines to ensure the status quo. The long and short in answering this question is that there is no answer. As long as people are involved in the process lines will always be drawn with some form of bias in mind, and as no person would agree to a system that took control out of their own hands would never be allowed to work it is impossible to think we will ever see a true best way at drawing district lines. The reform model in the simulation would seem to be one of the best ways to go about the process. This is complicated though for the same reason I have mentioned earlier although it may seem to be the best for the people the people in power would never give up control and allow their fate to be decided anywhere but the chambers of elected officials. So, is there a best course of action in redistricting yes hypothetically I am sure that someone somewhere sitting in a dark room could figure one out, but the real answer is that the best way is the way redistricting is already decided on. Yes, I have spent most of this essay talking about how it is a flawed system but the American political system is a flawed system. Like Winston Churchill said “Democracy is the worst form of government on Earth, except for all the ones we have tried previously,” the bright spot is that at least the process make politicians work together regardless of party to ensure the survival of each other.