The Politics of Power and the Illusion of Democracy
The term “hypocrite” has long been associated with politicians, and recent events have only reinforced this perception. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has found himself at the center of a storm over his efforts to redraw congressional maps in a way that favors Republicans. This move, reportedly influenced by former President Donald Trump, aims to increase the number of GOP representatives in the next Congress through a rare mid-decade redistricting.
This process, known as gerrymandering, is named after Elbridge Gerry, a Founding Father who was the fifth Vice President of the United States. His district in Massachusetts, which was shaped like a salamander, inspired an 18th-century cartoonist to coin the term. Gerrymandering has always been seen as a tool for political manipulation, and its methods have evolved over time—from using quills and maps to now employing artificial intelligence and demographic modeling.
Redistricting is often compared to drawing the board of a Monopoly game while playing it. It’s also likened to slicing a birthday cake for a group of six-year-olds, all vying for the biggest piece and the frosted flower on top. While some argue that redistricting is about distributing voters more equitably, it often results in diluting minority Democratic voters in a predominantly Republican state.
In recent years, some states have attempted to reform the practice. California, Arizona, and Michigan established nonpartisan commissions to draw district maps more fairly. However, these efforts have not entirely eliminated the influence of incumbents, who still manage to protect their positions regardless of the changes.
Meanwhile, in the remaining 47 states, the traditional gerrymandering game continues, now enhanced with GPS coordinates and voter micro-targeting. It’s important to note that Republicans are not the only ones guilty of this practice. Democrats have also engaged in gerrymandering, creating electoral landscapes that favor their party.
New York, for example, has gerrymandered its maps twice in the last three years. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and her legislative allies have reinforced an electoral system that benefits the majority party, including mandating that election lawsuits be heard in Democrat-friendly counties and redrawing judicial maps to create more safe seats for Democrats.
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has not been immune to criticism either. Despite being labeled as a nonpartisan commission, California’s redistricting body has faced accusations of favoring Democratic interests. Newsom has even proposed special legislative measures to counteract what he sees as unfair practices in Texas.
The media often portrays these actions as either wise or villainous, depending on which party is involved. However, the outcomes speak for themselves. In Maryland, for instance, Donald Trump received around 32 percent of the vote in 2024, yet Republicans hold only one congressional seat out of eight. Similarly, in Massachusetts, Trump secured over 35 percent of the vote, but every House member is a Democrat.
Is this democracy, or is it political performance art? The press often frames this as a morality play, but the reality is that every side is complicit. The biggest lie is the notion that one side started it. The result is a scorched-earth electoral map, drawn not to reflect the will of the people, but to deny it.
We are left with crooked lines and crookeder leaders, with very few districts where the two parties actually have to compete to win. Both sides deliver the same sanctimonious message: “We’re protecting democracy from the extremists.” But the truth is that gerrymandering is an abuse of power, no matter which party is in control.
Don’t be the chump who picks a side. The real issue is the systemic abuse of power that undermines the democratic process.
