[EM] Geographical districts

[Juho]

On Sep 5, 2008, at 0:52 , Jonathan Lundell wrote:

> On Sep 4, 2008, at 2:13 PM, Juho wrote:
>
>> I like natural districts, so one approach would be to let people  
>> say and let history decide. The reason why I find "natural"  
>> districts natural in politics is that when people feel like they  
>> are part of some community it is easier to find consensus and  
>> cooperate within that community. And of course the border lines  
>> will then follow whatever natural dividing lines there are.
>
> That seems wrong to me, but I don't have anything but subjective  
> impressions. Certainly for my local city council and school board  
> the community has no more consensus (and perhaps less) than one  
> finds at the state level. If anything, differences become more  
> pronounced locally.

What I meant was that electing a school board that is responsible for  
the local school is more natural than electing a school board that is  
responsible for 50% of one school and 50% of another school. In  
geographical districts that would mean border lines that follow the  
rivers, highways, traditional understanding etc.

People tend to be "patriotic" and they share and defend the common  
"values" of units that they consider to be "their own". Having such  
natural units in politics could be considered positive as long as  
people don't get too patriotic (and e.g. start "wars" against the  
"competing units").

I agree that local matters are often more difficult to handle  
peacefully than some more general matters. But natural districting  
may still be considered a positive thing also at local level.

Juho





		
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