CREATING SMALL
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS
As explained previously in regard to Article the First, as the size of House
districts have grown in size, the people have lost control of the selection
process and very seldom are their representatives actually accountable to the
constituency instead of special interests who fund their campaigns and keep
them in office.
In today’s world, the possibility of passing an apportionment
amendment limiting the size of a House District is effectively zero.
So, what can we do?
A couple weeks ago an idea came to me on how a
single House district could implement a plan to restore it to one where the
people (not special interests and big money) would be able to select and elect
representatives—should the people decide to do so.
The purpose is to restore self-government to a
specific House District that elects to do so and actively combat many of the
corrupting influences of the current system. From my take on the
Constitution, this could be done in one or more House districts without needing
an Amendment to the Constitution or for Congressional approval.
Below are some thoughts on how to create small
districts, where the local public could select people of known character to
represent them. Any comments or feedback will be very much appreciated:
A DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR
CREATING SMALL DISTRICTS AND REPRESENTATIVES WHERE WE THE PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE
The idea is that a House district (currently
averaging around 750,000 population) could be broken down into smaller
districts, each about 50,000 population, and those districts (about 15) could
hold town hall type meetings (also live on the internet to local residents) to
discuss issues, and through a process end up selecting some people they want to
represent them, and then hold an election.
And then, from the 15 individuals selected,
through a process (lots of ways it could be done), select one of the 15 to
actually go to D.C.—but also be accountable to the other 14 staying at home and
also, via methods, keep the citizens in the loop. As I said, a rough
idea, but it could be implemented, especially in one of the smaller states
where they have only one or two Representatives. If it worked out, it
could provide a pattern for the rest of the states and House districts.
As a preparation and hopeful way of defeating
the corrupt practice of Gerrymandering, a computer program should be developed,
using census information on population locations and local boundaries to
generate districts of roughly equal population, and free from political
influence.
Some proposed ground rules:
1) The goal is not for candidates to promote
themselves, but to articulate the issues and philosophy of government they
support.
2) Candidates to agree not to accept any funding
for their campaign—and no advertisements in media, use of social media or
email.
3) The forum for candidates to promote their
agendas would be via public meetings, debates, Q&A, etc. open to the
general public and televised via the internet and available for post event
viewing and download.
Post election:
4) Of those elected for each sub-district, one
will be chosen (by lottery or other agreed method) to go to D.C. as the
Representative for the entire district
5) All Representatives will agree to only meet
or discuss issues with Lobbyists in a pre-announced public forum.
Constituencies of each district to be able to be involved in the discussion of
merits of the lobbyist’s proposals.
6) Funding to be provided for a local agent, who
lives in the home district of the Representative going to D.C., will be
provided to fulfill the local responsibility to interact with the electorate in
the home sub-district.
7) Information regarding legislation pending is
to be posted on a district website, where constituents can express opinions as
well as participate in poling regarding their support of the matter.
* * *
One must keep in mind that it is only the rarest
of elected officials who would be willing to relinquish their power for the
common good. The purpose of small
districts is to give the power of selection and holding their representatives
accountable back to the people.
The question is:
Do the people care enough to do that?