A really interesting perspective by John Arnold in Houston Chronicle:

A fundamental characteristic of representative democracy is that people get to elect their politicians. [In June 2019], in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal courts have no power to stop politicians from picking their voters. The implications of this decision extend well beyond any near-term partisan advantage. It effectively gives politicians carte blanche to entrench themselves without fear of accountability from voters or federal courts.

For every American who believes it’s our collective responsibility and collective destiny to continue on the path of establishing a more perfect union, [the June 2019 Supreme Court] decision was a setback. But it was not the end of the fight — not even close. Where the court failed to act, the people can — by working through their representatives, courts and direct democracy to pass laws in states and eventually Congress that limit partisan gerrymandering.

It won’t be easy. Gerrymandering has been an unfortunate feature of our republican system since its founding. George Washington famously accused Patrick Henry of drawing Virginia’s districts to promote James Monroe over James Madison during the nation’s first congressional election.

Read full article here.