Editorial: Voters should pick representatives, not the other way around
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 -- It is a startling contrast. It is clear evidence that when politicians get to pick their voters -- gerrymandering is the all too familiar word for it -- they win big. They represent their own agenda - not that of North Carolina residents.
Posted — UpdatedIt is a startling contrast. It is clear evidence that when politicians get to pick their voters -- gerrymandering is the all too familiar word for it -- they win big. They represent their own agenda – not that of North Carolina residents.
These victory margins weren’t overwhelming expressions of approval and popularity. They were affirmations of the power of gerrymandering.
These wins don’t represent voters’ support for any expressed agendas or issues.
Now, that’s a lot of numbers but the math is simple. When North Carolina voters get to pick their candidates – like they do in statewide races, contests are close, candidates need to present themselves and let people know what they stand for and defend their records.
When candidates get to pick their voters, as they do with gerrymandering, the outcome is practically predetermined. There’s no mandate and no message these legislators take with them to Raleigh or Washington.
They wrote their script and picked voters – using the most sophisticated technology and expertise available – to provide a pre-determined outcome.
Legislators, as has been obvious much of the last decade, have their own agenda and have no need to be responsive. One example is particularly to the point now.
When the pandemic hit the state, the hundreds of thousands who suddenly found themselves unemployed discovered they had the stingiest unemployment benefits in the nation.
Legislative leaders considered the narrow needs of the state’s corporations – and not the needs of the vast majority of working North Carolinians. Many now have already run out of much-needed support for themselves and their families weeks before similarly situated workers in other states.
The desires of a few outweighed the needs of the many. Gerrymandering protected nearly every legislator, regardless of their political affiliation, from any consequences at the ballot box.
Our state cannot continue to have a legislature that is not accountable to the citizens.
The most basic lesson from the outcome of our state legislative elections is that it is past time to adopt a nonpartisan system for drawing legislative and congressional districts. It is time the voice of the people – not self-selected officeholders – gets heard in Raleigh.
Related Topics
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.