January 06, 2005
Troxler touches on redistricting
Columns: Democracy drowning in snake oil of incumbency
Competitive democracy no longer exists in Florida at the legislative level.That is no exaggeration. Democracy has ceased to exist when it comes to electing the Florida Legislature.
Our legislators, because they have the power to draw their own voting districts, have drawn their maps in such a way that they cannot be seriously challenged.
Republicans have their own districts. Democrats have their own districts. The incumbents on both sides are fat, happy and safe. They cannot be defeated.
Here is how many incumbent members of our 160-member Florida Legislature were defeated in this past November's general election:
Zero.
Zero!
If we were talking about communist China or the old Soviet Union, you and I might be feeling smug and yukking it up right now. But we're talking about our own democracy. It has disappeared.
Troxler later alludes to a still quiet attempt by Betty Castor and Bill Nelson to spearhead a citizen initiative to put redistricting into the hands of an independent commission. That’s an idea which should have huge support, and it’s a “right thing to do” issue - difficult for those in power to credibly oppose.
Of course, Jeb! & Co. will do their level best to weaken the voice of the people through legislation that puts increasingly high hurdles in the path of citizen initiatives.
Posted by Norwood at January 6, 2005 08:09 AM