Critical Perspectives on Gerrymandering by Jennifer Peters

Author:Jennifer Peters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enslow Publishing, LLC
Published: 2019-08-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

WHAT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS SAY

The majority of the advocacy groups working on the issue of gerrymandering are opposed to the practice. They believe that gerrymandering devalues certain voters and causes elections to be won in an unfair manner. But what can or should be done to fix the problem is up for debate. In the following articles, you’ll see what different anti-gerrymandering advocates feel is the real problem and how each proposes to solve it. As you read, consider how their arguments are similar, as well as how they’re different, and which of their proposals is most likely to appeal to the legislators who draw the district maps.

“DRAINING THE SWAMP: A HOW-TO GUIDE,” BY GARY D. BASS AND DANIELLE BRIAN, FROM OTHERWORDS, DECEMBER 14, 2016

IF TRUMP CARES ABOUT UNRIGGING THE SYSTEM LIKE HE’S SAID, HERE ARE FIVE THINGS HE CAN DO

When President-elect Donald Trump talked about “draining the swamp,” it evoked the way Bernie Sanders talks about how the system is rigged. Many Americans believe — with good reason — that powerful corporate lobbyists, elites, and other moneyed interests control the levers of government.

Trump has pledged to refrain from nominating corporate lobbyists for political positions, to restrict appointees from lobbying for five years after leaving their government posts, and to do something about conflicts of interest arising from his own extensive business interests.

But in order to truly drain the swamp, he’ll need to do far more. Here are five additional elements we hope Trump includes in his plan:

1. START WITH THE TOP.

Trump needs to turn over his family businesses into a true blind trust managed by an independent trustee with no ties to his family. The trustee should dispose of any business enterprises behind the blind trust wall and invest the new assets without any information going to Trump himself.

Cabinet appointees, too, need to be free of conflicts of interest in order to effectively serve the national interest.

2. CRACK DOWN ON POLITICAL APPOINTEES WITH FINANCIAL CONFLICTS.

Trump should issue an executive order on his first day in office cracking down not on lobbyists, but on all those with financial conflicts of interest. Focusing on lobbyists simply allows them to game the system by de-registering.

The executive order should also include restrictions on all political appointees from using government positions to curry favor with past and future employers.

That means there should be a ban on private gifts or compensation to people going into the administration. And appointees involved in policy decisions should be barred from working for any private entity that’s materially benefited from those policies.

3. STOP THE MONEY GAME.

Along with money in politics, Trump needs to do something about what we call “money in policy.” Between elections, billions of dollars are spent each year by powerful interests in order to influence policies, contracts, and other decisions at federal agencies. The next administration should limit this type of government capture.

Similarly, Trump should push for strict standards to keep special interests from dominating federal advisory committees tasked with making policy recommendations.

4. END THE SWEET DEALS FOR CONTRACTORS.

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