Tuesday, February 27, 2024

When they go low, we go high

Michelle Obama famously said that.  Cynics have made up their own comebacks:  When they go low, we stomp on them; or, When they go low, we go lower.  I’m generally a fan of Michelle Obama’s moral philosophy, but....


I worked very hard a few years ago on the effort to adopt a non-partisan approach to drawing district lines in Pennsylvania.  As it turned out, the appellate courts took care of the problem.  The court-ordered Congressional reapportionment resulted in eight Democratic wins and eight Republican wins.  That’s about right.


New York state also came up with a bipartisan redistricting committee that has drawn congressional lines.  Now the NY Democrats have rejected their map and propose to gerrymander the districts.  In principle I think this is wrong, since the Republicans always claim, “Well, the Democrats do it when they get a chance.”  It is this kind of thing that makes people register independent because they think both parties are crooked.


On the other hand, some N.Y. Democrats are proposing a gerrymander that would create as many new districts as the North Carolina Republicans have created with their gerrymander.  At a time when the Congressional Republicans talk about shutting down the government, misuse the impeachment process, refuse to deal with the border issue, talk about a national abortion ban, and back Russia over the Ukraine, I think I have to say, “Sorry Ms. Obama.  When they go low, they deserve what they get.”  Or I can even get Biblical:  “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”  Hosea 8:7.

1 comment:

  1. When they go low, be careful you don't trip over them as you move forward!

    ReplyDelete