Eventual end of Gerrymandering?

California has just passed a ballot initiative to create a nonpartisan commission to do the redistricting of House of Representatives seats as a result of the 2010 Census. I believe Florida has a similar commission.

The GOP did very, VERY well in Gubernatorial and State Legislative elections on November 2nd and so will have control of the redistricting process in many important States. This will doubtless result in more GOP-friendly seats being created for the 2012-2020 elections than would be the case if Democrats controlled the process in more States. As a partisan matter, I can hardly complain about this. It's been the Spoils of [political] War since the beginning of the Republic. But I believe it's wrong!

In the United Kingdom, the nonpartisan Boundaries Commission is in charge of changing House of Commons constituency boundaries. This is particularly important in the lead up to the next Parliamentary elections in May 2015, because the number of seats is going to be reduced from 650 to 600 and - with only a couple of extreme geographically dictated exceptions - every seat will have to have within 5% as many people on the electoral roll as every other seat. Imagine if the Coalition Government were in charge of this or a Committee of the House of Commons. It would result in endless squabbles between and within the Parties and bring Parliament into disrepute - again!

I believe every State in the U.S. should adopt a nonpartisan means of setting House seat boundaries before the 2020 Census requires this process to happen the next time. The people will thank them for it, and a major cyclical cause of time wasting conflict in State governments all across the country will be removed forever.

Job half done

The U.S. Midterm elections saw a series of Republican victories at Senate, House, Governor, and State Legislature levels. It will make a substantial difference in a number of ways (eg. GOP controlled House will pass a whole new brand of spending bills, Republicans redrawing Congressional District boundaries at State level to their advantage, Senate having solid fillibuster-proof 47 GOP seats), but while it's a big step it's only the first step.

If they stay on message and keep it simple, and if the contest for their Presidential nomination honors Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment (Thou Shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican) more than might be expected in what will surely be a vigorous and competitive contest, Republicans can take control of the Senate in 2012 (23 Democrat seats up) and make Barack Obama a one term President. The latter possibility is fraught with obstacles, and the chances of the most likely candidate to defeat the President being the actual choice is far from certain (these elections showed that Tea Party associated candidates were judged like all other candidates and some were stronger than others). But only with a Republican President and Congress after 2012 can the legislation of 2009-10 be repealed and new and better laws be passed and signed.

Most importantly there must be no triumphalism - which is not yet justified, if it ever is! - and not a moment spent in navel gazing or clashes of egos. The next two years up to and including election day 2012 are amongst the most important in America's history. The nation requires and deserves the best the GOP has to offer. If they continue to listion to the People and act accordingly - with fortitude but humility - it will culminate in a glorious day in November 2012 and in the years thereafter.

But there's a looooong way to go.