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Partisanship And Congressional Districts

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

Independents Shut Out

Regarding "Drawing The Line On Redistricting" (Commentary, Jan 6):

Joseph H. Brown's column on redistricting was right on the mark. The only thing that was missing from the article was the term gerrymandering, which is a far more descriptively sinister term for the backroom deals performed by our elected politicians.

Both political parties appear satisfied with the current gerrymandering process (e.g. status quo), but the fact that Betty Castor (D) attempted to "reform" the process demonstrates Florida's slight lean to the political right. I believe the Democrats would love to swing the voter districts toward their ideological side to have more sway in Tallahassee (and Washington for that matter). But now, amazingly enough, Florida seems to represent the average American political mindset (compassionate but fiscally responsible).

That doesn't mean Florida's political districts should be the stacked deck they are and primary elections shouldn't be the only race that matters. Florida needs to end the disenfranchisement of the independent voter.

KEVIN SCHWEIKHART

Tampa

Can't Take Out Politics

Joe Brown's commentary is a continuation of his nonpartisan redistricting jag. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Brown: Taking the politics out of redistricting amounts to taking the people out of the process. It's insulting to democratic principle.

Unlike predominantly white Iowa, having slight diversity, Florida is a cultural polyglot. Iowa can successfully implement its bureaucrat-inspired redistricting policy because of its lack of cultural diversity; consequently, a consensus (or what people will tolerate) is achievable; ergo nonpartisan policy-making is also made possible. Politics is the art of the possible.

The deep cultural diversity and rich historical detail of Florida makes delegating the peoples' democratic freedoms out of republican governance and into the hands of bureaucrats thoroughly disagreeable to the majority, hence impossible, particularly among the growing minority population who increasingly benefit politically from the "status quo."

Mr. Brown doesn't understand; what's fair isn't always just.

JAMES J. MARTIN

Tampa

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