Illinois is in such pathetic financial condition, we're almost as bad as California. So I've been working on a small effort to change one thing here, the Illinois Fair Map amendment, which will ask voters to change the way we set redistricting after each census reveals population shifts.
Iowa, to name one eminently fair state, uses a computer to redraw district lines after each census. How sensible!
Illinois allows the ruling party leaders to propose new district lines. If the other side doesn't like the proposal, they can come up with their own version. Each side tries to draw lines that reward incumbents and punish the other party. Some districts look like weird jigsaw puzzle pieces with long peninsulas and strange shapes. If no one can agree - they actually flip a coin. And this has been done. How ridiculous!
So, I'm out trying to find people who are registered voters in Illinois and convince them to sign a petition to put the Fair Map amendment on the ballot in November, but it ain't easy. Getting people to listen to your appeal on the Metra platform is discouraging.
I hate rejection. I can't imagine how people can decide to run for office - getting rejected right and left most of the time. Office-seekers must have to have an elephant's hide. Either these people are heroes or their egos are so huge that they can weather anything. Onward.
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