By Frank Blechman Why do incumbent elected officials usually win reelection? Critics would say they win because the elections are “rigged.” For me, that’s a question of semantics. Yes, in the past, gerrymandered districts have favored incumbents, not just by… Read More ›
GERRYMANDERING
Gerry’s Salamander
It’s been more than 200 years since the first sighting of the salamander in Massachusetts in 1812, foisted upon the public by Elbridge Gerry. Over those two centuries, the creature has consumed or created countless millions of useless votes by… Read More ›
Virginiamanders
An innocuous phrase in the Constitution (Art. I, Sec. 2) propels one of the most crucial aspects of the nation’s political dynamics. “The actual enumeration [of persons] shall be made…within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as… Read More ›
Trouble in Richmond City
In The Music Man, Harold Hill, a consummate con artist, arrives in River City to dupe its residents with his moneymaking schemes. Despite a complete absence of musical ability, he… Read More ›
Beyond Our Border
NEBRASKA The official motto of the Cornhusker State is “Equality Before the Law.” Two inmates convicted of murder in separate instances became engaged to marry in 2011, having been introduced to one another by a mutual friend before they were… Read More ›
Two May Not Be Better than One
A simple Google search inquiring “why do US state legislatures have two chambers” returns no sources providing convincing, rational reasons. Rather, reviewing a number of the results, one hears the words from grammar and high school civics course resonating that… Read More ›
The More Things Change . . .
The January 6 assault upon the Capitol occurred, in part, because the mob was encouraged to believe that the presidential election was sufficiently close to conclude that it could be undone by compromising the vote of the Electoral College (EC)…. Read More ›