EXTRA CREDIT BLOG
PLAY THE REDISTRICTING GAME.
Post your results and one vocabulary word you learned when you were playing
http://redistrictinggame.org/
Play the Basic Section of Mission 2 - You should see a section that looks like this:
Gerrymander the State of Hamilton in your party's favor.
Basic - Advanced - Learn More - Quotes
I received 64 yeas and 36 nays. I was not upheld by the court and my plan was signed by the governor in mission 1. From playing this game I learned what gerrymandering really is. Politicians use gerrymandering to benefit themselves when their districts vote for them. Through gerrymandering, politicians can draw districts that will benefit themselves based on their party affiliation, race, or even religion. They must not show this though, so it must be a subtle difference shown between party percentages. Gerrymandering is somewhat corrupt, but also legal. This corruptness is what leads most to be skeptical of the ability to gerrymander.
ReplyDeletehttp://prntscr.com/5idhnb - Proof of Win
ReplyDeletehttp://prntscr.com/5idi4w - Gerrymandered Map
I have learned fro this game how much you can get a way with when you are a redistricting party. I was able to almost completely surround another district, and I still passed. I am aware that those gerrymandered will not be properly represented but 5 Points Extra Credit is 5 points Extra Credit.
In Mission 2 of the redistricting game, I received 60 “yeas” and 40 “nays,” the governor signed my plan and my case was dismissed in court. The first time I submitted my plan, it was upheld and the court ruled that I was bending the district boundaries to fit the needs of my party. After altering my map and balancing the districts again my case was dismissed and my candidate won election. Was there really that large of a difference in my two maps to which one was upheld with many comments and the other dismissed without any questions asked? Answer: Not really. The difference in my maps were one or two mouse clicks and because “careful and fair” gerrymandering is seen to be the best possible solution to fix the problems associated with gerrymandering, it is left up to the government to determine whether the redistricting is “fair.” This is obviously subjective and I agree with Jake’s opinion that the “corruptness [of gerrymandering] is what leads most to be skeptical of the ability to gerrymander.” Although it can be corrupt, it can usually balance itself out due to the interests of the people, whether they are favoring Democratic or Republican ideals at the time being. And because a census is taken every ten years, opinions are likely to change among US citizens and in the government itself.
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