Gerrymandering? Don’t Blame GOP – Blame Them All

Gerrymandering, according to the good folks at the dictionary George Merriam and Noah Webster started is “the practice of dividing or arranging a territorial unit into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections.”

For the purposes of today’s scribbles, let’s just focus on one word – unfair.

Forget political parties for a second. Sure, the Republicans in Texas started the whole hullabaloo this time – but the Democrats have done it just as well.

And let’s also forget the fact that for more than half a century redrawing district lines has only been done in years ending in ones (1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021).  Nairy one time has it happened in the middle of a census period, like 2025.

But never you mind any of that. Ther only thing that matters is this. Republicans AND Democrats alike have decided your interests are no longer the priority. Not yours, not mine and certainly not the country’s. Their only priority now is their political party and either keeping it, or getting it back, in power.

Why?

Simple.

Arrogance and greed.

Let’s look at this like we might a marriage. Can you imagine a marriage – any marriage, but for grins and giggles let’s make it your own – where the husband or the wife gets complete control; where their opinion is always going to carry the day?

Don’t know about your house but it certainly doesn’t work that way in mine. And anyone who thinks it does is arrogant. Anyone who wants it that way is greedy.

Our politicians are both.

In short, they have decided to put party before country.

How are we not appalled?

It should matter not if you are a Republican, a Democrat, Libertarian, Independent or the National Pickle Pushers. What should matter is that the Executive and Legislative branches are doing their damndest to ensure their party is on top and stays there. They are saying that the best solutions will not come from two opposing sides hashing things out and finding common ground. The idea of a Republican and Democrat going at it tooth and nail during session and dining together that night is gone. Long gone.

Remember JFK? “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Nope. Not even close now.

Maybe both parties should take a lesson from one of America’s greatest presidents, Harry Truman. Long before he became a Senator, VP and eventually Commander-in-Chief, Harry was involved in local and state politics in his home state of Missouri. Harry was a Democrat, proud and true. One year, he opted to throw his support behind a Republican running for county marshal. Seems Harry had served with the fellow in World War I and knew him to be a good man and leader. Some Democrats were miffed, but “Give ‘em Hell Harry” explained that not supporting the right person would be “untrue to the country.”

Being true to the country? It appears that’s a concept lost on our current political parties.

Two cents, which is about how much Timmons said his columns are worth, appears periodically in The Times. Timmons is the chief executive officer of Sagamore News Media, the company that owns The Noblesville Times. He is also a proud Noblesville High School graduate and can be contacted at ttimmons@thetimes24-7.com.