Letter: Voter independence threatened by new redistricting proposal
To the editor,
– Tyranny of the Majority is being played out by the governor and the legislature, and this should alarm all citizens. My last party affiliation was as a California Democrat. I am now a California Independent. The voters of our state passed legislation to provide for voter district boundaries to be established by a bipartisan committee. The districts formed have sent representatives to Washington in a ratio of 83% Democrats/17% Republicans, while in the last election, our voters cast 60% of the votes for Democrats and 40% for Republicans. This imbalance, while uncomfortable, is not outrageous. We do have 52 representatives, which is more than all other states.
The condition that should alarm everyone is that the governor and legislature have taken the tyrannical position that what we, the voters, passed should be overturned and replaced. Instead of an independent redistricting, the legislators want to redistrict the voting map to suit their desires. Since the California legislature is 21% Republicans, we all know what the outcome from a Democrat run map drawing will be. The Tyranny of the Majority will take on new meaning.
That the voters need to vote NO on Proposition 50 should be clear and obvious. That we have a governor and legislators who would even think of bringing this proposition to the voters is an embarrassment and proof of the Tyranny of the Majority. (see John Adams, James Madison, Alexis de Tocqueville, et al…) Just my two cents.
John Gower
San Miguel
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Well said.
I must disagree. If this country is going to remain a democracy (of the people, for the people, and by the people) then we have to fight fire with fire.
Maybe you agree with what Texas did as a favor to Trump (other R states are considering doing the same) was OK and completely above board – I do not.
Prop 50 is CA’s response to these shenanigans. I am further convinced that Trump and his allies will do anything and everything to to prevent the 2026 mid-term from being a Democratic victory.
A Yes vote on Prop 50 is the only choice we have to help put a stop to what is happening to this country.
The right wing across the country has been defying the results of the U.S. Census for decades in order to create targeted gerrymandered voting districts to create advantages. Those efforts have often been racially biased. Not much outcry to be heard except from liberals just wanting the playing field to be level based on the population demographics.
It’s highly ironic and obviously hypocritical to see right leaning Californians excuse those actions including in our own SLO County BOS elections several years ago. Instead, they walk in lock step with the most undemocratic, anti-Constitutional, despotic leader to rig his way into office in U.S. history.
Governor Newsom has faced removal twice during his tenure and defeated his opponents by the exact percentages he’s won election by. That is a tribute to the high level of security in our electoral processes and his popularity among fair minded, forward thinking Californians.
I’ll end with a term oft used by the far right when liberal complain about anything, “Don’t like it, leave”.
California Proposition 50’s 3 T’s
Triggered: Only takes effect if Texas Gerrymandering remains in effect
Targeted: About 98% of California voters remain in their same District
Temporary: Goes back to non-partisan commission districts in 2030
House control is essential to limiting Trump’s dictatorship after 2026
Well said.
I must disagree. If this country is going to remain a democracy (of the people, for the people, and by the people) then we have to fight fire with fire.
Maybe you agree with what Texas did as a favor to Trump (other R states are considering doing the same) was OK and completely above board – I do not.
Prop 50 is CA’s response to these shenanigans. I am further convinced that Trump and his allies will do anything and everything to to prevent the 2026 mid-term from being a Democratic victory.
A Yes vote on Prop 50 is the only choice we have to help put a stop to what is happening to this country.
The right wing across the country has been defying the results of the U.S. Census for decades in order to create targeted gerrymandered voting districts to create advantages. Those efforts have often been racially biased. Not much outcry to be heard except from liberals just wanting the playing field to be level based on the population demographics.
It’s highly ironic and obviously hypocritical to see right leaning Californians excuse those actions including in our own SLO County BOS elections several years ago. Instead, they walk in lock step with the most undemocratic, anti-Constitutional, despotic leader to rig his way into office in U.S. history.
Governor Newsom has faced removal twice during his tenure and defeated his opponents by the exact percentages he’s won election by. That is a tribute to the high level of security in our electoral processes and his popularity among fair minded, forward thinking Californians.
I’ll end with a term oft used by the far right when liberal complain about anything, “Don’t like it, leave”.
California Proposition 50’s 3 T’s
Triggered: Only takes effect if Texas Gerrymandering remains in effect
Targeted: About 98% of California voters remain in their same District
Temporary: Goes back to non-partisan commission districts in 2030
House control is essential to limiting Trump’s dictatorship after 2026