Redistricting Reform Is a Nationwide Need

Re “Computerized Voter Abuse,” editorial, Feb. 21: I might agree that an independent commission of retired judges should decide congressional boundaries if that would be the case for all 50 states. However, to do it just for California while such other states as Pennsylvania, Colorado and most notably Texas try to maximize Republican representation would be unfair to a blue state like California, where Democrats have a majority. As a result, the Democratic Party would have even less influence in Congress (which is what I feel is the governor’s true intent).

Jason Platt

Whittier

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Re “Schwarzenegger’s Risky Scribble,” Opinion, Feb. 20: Gov. Schwarzenegger is groping to govern GOP-style, going for the Tom DeLay scheme of gerrymandering California as was done in Texas, by creating crazy-patch partisan Republican districts. As soon as voters realize the cost of reapportionment, and that the GOP Texas representatives are trying to protect House Majority Leader DeLay by introducing legislation to halt an investigation of his alleged raising of hundreds of thousands in illegal corporate contributions, Californians will become very angry. Instead of groping for GOP schemes, perhaps the governor should simply practice good governance and start fulfilling some of his broken promises.

Jerold Drucker

Tarzana

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Re “Gov. Presses Beltway Delegation,” Feb. 18: As one who ran in one of our gerrymandered Assembly districts last fall, I was pleased to see that Schwarzenegger’s plan to reform the way we draw our legislative districts has gotten the support of Common Cause. That watchdog group’s endorsement is not easily won. But it can see even from Washington that something is seriously wrong with the current system, when not even one of the 153 legislative seats changed party hands in the last election despite the serious ethical questions that were (and are) hanging over the heads of several members from both parties.

It’s time for those who milk the status quo to put the interests of the people, not to mention democracy itself, ahead of their own selfishness. I applaud Common Cause for supporting the governor’s determination to restore fair and competitive elections to our state. Though I believe it important to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s even more important that we bring democracy back to California.

Paul Morgan Fredrix

West Hollywood

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Re “GOP Moderates From O.C. Recruiting in L.A. County,” Feb. 18: The effect such activities may have on Schwarzenegger’s plans for rewriting the state’s rules on Senate and Assembly redistricting ignores the obvious fact that, in a practical sense, there is no such thing as a “Republican moderate.” Majorities bolstered by so-called moderates enable the national GOP leadership to carry out its radical right-wing agenda. For any Republican to claim otherwise is much like a bank robber declaring his innocence merely because he was driving the getaway car.

A.L. Hern

Los Angeles