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The Effect Of Gerrymandering On Society

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In order for a society that revolves around democracy to flourish, the voice of every citizen to must be heard. If the integrity of a republic and its election process were compromised, not all voices would be heard and those in power would unfairly hold their positions. It seems preposterous that such an injustice would exist in today's society, but it is already occurring in some areas of the nation. For decades, politicians have utilized the infamous method of gerrymandering to manipulate the composition of a population within the district for their own advantage. This involves shaping congressional districts to include a majority of citizens who agree with the politician responsible for gerrymandering. As a result, the politicians who use …show more content…
In a traditional republic, citizens elect their representatives to express their views and opinions in Congress. However, modern gerrymandering has reversed this system by enabling politicians to choose their voters (Applewhite). By having a guaranteed majority, partisan politicians are able to pursue their agenda while neglecting compromise. Compromise is an essential part of a pluralistic government because it is necessary in order to satisfy the needs of all groups in a society. In his article, We Must Address Gerrymandering, Thomas E. Mann accurately sums up the principle effect of the method in which, “party members… find their own interests in re-election and majority status importantly connected to these redistricting efforts, which makes them even more inclined to cooperate with partisan team play that drains the policy making process of its capacity to negotiate and compromise” (Mann). Compromise is a vital aspect of democracy due to its reliable effect of preventing tyranny and the oppressive rule of one faction. A balanced and equal representation forces different political parties to cooperate in order to achieve their respective …show more content…
This process essentially eliminates the purpose of the votes of minority groups, distort the relationship between politicians and their constituents and prevents voting systems from effectively representing the opinions the population. Possible solutions include creating an Independent Commission that is responsible for completing the task in a non-partisan manner or publicly developing an algorithm that would organize districts efficiently and fairly. To resolve these issues, the reestablishment of district lines should be regulated to prevent the negative effects of gerrymandering and to ensure that the voice of every citizen is heard. Those who are concerned with this issue can contact the representative of a district to initiate a change to ensure the quality of all

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