Comments on: PONDERING SOLUTIONS FOR MICHIGAN'S BROKEN LEGISLATURE http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/pondering-solutions-for-michigans-broken-legislature/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:29:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dan Brown http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/pondering-solutions-for-michigans-broken-legislature/#comment-43396 Dan Brown Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:50:33 +0000 http://69.5.25.110/blog/2006/06/29/pondering-solutions-for-michigans-broken-legislature/#comment-43396 Instead of obsessing about competitive districts, you guys should focus on the fact that the Michigan legislature (House and Senate) are not representative of the voting public. Over one-third of those voting are not represented. These are the voters who vote for the losing candidate. In closely contested districts, the unrepresented voting public approaches one-half. Also, it's apparent that, particularly in the case of the State Senate, districting has been grossly gerrymandered. What's the solution? The solution to both the non-representative nature of our legislature and gerrymandering is a solution that Phil Power has advocated in the past but apparently doesn't have the balls to advocate now. What is it? The answer is to be found in the concept of proportional representation. PR can be as extreme as that proposed by Zolton Ferency. On the other hand, there can be variations on the theme. One extreme would be to limit representation to two representatives per district. Another would be to limit representation to those candidates who receive a minimum percentage of the vote: 20%? 15%? 10%? Whatever. If one truly believed in representation, an elected representative would carry into the legislature a vote that would directly reflect the actual number of votes received in the general election. An added (and major) benefit to adopting a system based on the principle of proportional representation and a vote in the House or Senate reflecting the actual number of votes received is that the whole business of districting would disappear as would the issue of gerrymandering. Instead of obsessing about competitive districts, you guys should focus on the fact that the Michigan legislature (House and Senate) are not representative of the voting public. Over one-third of those voting are not represented. These are the voters who vote for the losing candidate. In closely contested districts, the unrepresented voting public approaches one-half. Also, it's apparent that, particularly in the case of the State Senate, districting has been grossly gerrymandered.

What's the solution? The solution to both the non-representative nature of our legislature and gerrymandering is a solution that Phil Power has advocated in the past but apparently doesn't have the balls to advocate now. What is it? The answer is to be found in the concept of proportional representation. PR can be as extreme as that proposed by Zolton Ferency. On the other hand, there can be variations on the theme. One extreme would be to limit representation to two representatives per district. Another would be to limit representation to those candidates who receive a minimum percentage of the vote: 20%? 15%? 10%? Whatever.

If one truly believed in representation, an elected representative would carry into the legislature a vote that would directly reflect the actual number of votes received in the general election.

An added (and major) benefit to adopting a system based on the principle of proportional representation and a vote in the House or Senate reflecting the actual number of votes received is that the whole business of districting would disappear as would the issue of gerrymandering.

]]> By: r j http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/pondering-solutions-for-michigans-broken-legislature/#comment-212 r j Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:09:07 +0000 http://69.5.25.110/blog/2006/06/29/pondering-solutions-for-michigans-broken-legislature/#comment-212 I am puzzled by those who are blaming term limits--at least in part--for the current sad state in Michigan. Term limits were partially motivated by the incompetence of the Legislature in the 80s and early 90s. Think back. We were in the SAME position we are in now. Huge deficits, low revenues, the auto industry in the tank, companies and people fleeing the state, and the largest tax hike in the history of the State was necessary to get us out of the morass we were in. The only difference is back then the incumbents had the jobs for life, and now we throw the bums out after twelve years. Either way, the State is still in the toilet due to lack of foresight, planning, and basic care--for the entire State rather than themselves and their campaign contributors. I am puzzled by those who are blaming term limits--at least in part--for the current sad state in Michigan. Term limits were partially motivated by the incompetence of the Legislature in the 80s and early 90s. Think back. We were in the SAME position we are in now. Huge deficits, low revenues, the auto industry in the tank, companies and people fleeing the state, and the largest tax hike in the history of the State was necessary to get us out of the morass we were in. The only difference is back then the incumbents had the jobs for life, and now we throw the bums out after twelve years. Either way, the State is still in the toilet due to lack of foresight, planning, and basic care--for the entire State rather than themselves and their campaign contributors.

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