Comments on: voting against democracy http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/ The world of politics, policy and public life Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:09:14 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Oz http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-290 Oz Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:49:06 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-290 Good on the ACLU. However, I recall an earlier court challenge on the same basis that was thrown out of court. Maybe they'll get a decent judge. Good on the ACLU. However, I recall an earlier court challenge on the same basis that was thrown out of court. Maybe they’ll get a decent judge.

]]> By: Andrew Bartlett http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-289 Andrew Bartlett Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:29:11 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-289 UPDATE: The American Civil Liberties Union and others have <a href="http://aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37706prs20081105.html" rel="nofollow">filed a court challenge</a> to the validity of Proposition 8 - the one which sought to make same sex marriages unconstitutional. There will be some fighting over this issue for some time yet. As Ben suggested, I'm fairly hopeful it will be reversed one way or another eventually, whether through the courts or the ballot box, although only if people keep making the case for why it is the just approach (as I'm sure they will). UPDATE: The American Civil Liberties Union and others have filed a court challenge to the validity of Proposition 8 – the one which sought to make same sex marriages unconstitutional. There will be some fighting over this issue for some time yet. As Ben suggested, I’m fairly hopeful it will be reversed one way or another eventually, whether through the courts or the ballot box, although only if people keep making the case for why it is the just approach (as I’m sure they will).

]]> By: Andrew Bartlett http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-288 Andrew Bartlett Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:21:19 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-288 That's true Oz - maybe tri-partisan or cross-partisan. But given they need the agreement of 3 Democrat aligned, 3 Republican aligned and 3 non-aligned out of the overall 14 Commissioners before any boudaries can be signed off, the main point is that it should significantly reduce the chances of one party drawing the boundaries to suit themselves, or of both parties doing a sweetheart deal to minimise the number of serious contests. That’s true Oz – maybe tri-partisan or cross-partisan.

But given they need the agreement of 3 Democrat aligned, 3 Republican aligned and 3 non-aligned out of the overall 14 Commissioners before any boudaries can be signed off, the main point is that it should significantly reduce the chances of one party drawing the boundaries to suit themselves, or of both parties doing a sweetheart deal to minimise the number of serious contests.

]]> By: Oz http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-287 Oz Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:41:59 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-287 I wouldn't call it "non-partisan", more like "bi-partisan". It's going from an elected board to a commission of randomly selected Democrats, Republicans and "Other". I wouldn’t call it “non-partisan”, more like “bi-partisan”. It’s going from an elected board to a commission of randomly selected Democrats, Republicans and “Other”.

]]> By: Andrew Bartlett http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-286 Andrew Bartlett Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:04:54 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-286 Ben - It applies to drawing of all the distrcit boundaries for the state legislature, but I have a feeling it doesn't apply to the federal congressional districts. Which would stil be progress, but just not as much progress as it might appear. Ben – It applies to drawing of all the distrcit boundaries for the state legislature, but I have a feeling it doesn’t apply to the federal congressional districts. Which would stil be progress, but just not as much progress as it might appear.

]]> By: Ben Raue http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2008/11/10/voting-against-democracy/#comment-285 Ben Raue Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:27:48 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/?p=150#comment-285 Wow, that's fantastic. Actually, it's probably more amazing than the gay marriage referendum. It's only a matter of time before that result is reversed (I'm betting on 2010), but the independent redistricting committee is something that is really needed in the US, and California has over 10% of all House seats. Wow, that’s fantastic. Actually, it’s probably more amazing than the gay marriage referendum. It’s only a matter of time before that result is reversed (I’m betting on 2010), but the independent redistricting committee is something that is really needed in the US, and California has over 10% of all House seats.

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