One of the reasons for the gridlock in Congress is that we allow states to draw congressional district boundaries. When this happens, the state will draw those boundaries to benefit the political party in charge in the state. This, in a way, disenfranchises the minority party in the congressional district. Congressmen, like Utah's Jason Chaffetz, go to Washington believing that their views represent the majority of the people in their district. What really happens is that those who believe as Chaffetz does are united, and those who do not are divided, or the boundaries are draw to minimize those voices.A highly republican state like Utah does it, and so does a highly democratic state like Massachusetts and California. Gerrymandering gives rise to the extremes in both parties, while those who are moderate are silenced.
Seating a congress should be like seating a jury. You do not want people who are completely impartial, you will never get anything done. When half the jury is strongly for the defense and half the jury is strongly for the prosecution, the jury will be hung, and justice will not be served. You want people who, even though they have their biases, can weigh the issues before them and make solid, informed decisions. If Congress today were a jury, it would be dismissed for being a hung jury.
How about this amendment:
Congressional district boundaries should not be drawn with respect to any political party nor should they be drawn to with respect to any race, religion, national origin, age, family status nor disability.
No congressional district boundary should divide any county, parish, borough, city, town or equivalent unit unless the population of that unit is greater than the proportion of the state's population for any congressional district. Congressional districts should do not have to be perfectly proportionate with the state's population.
Each state should also make similar considerations when dividing their respective state legislative district boundaries.
This article shall take effect for the first congressional election 2 years after it's ratification by the states.
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