Make districts simple.

I write a lot, and think even more, about issues of organizational, and specifically government malfunction. There are many things one can say about this, and rest assured, I intend to keep going on at enervating length about dozens of aspects of this for as long as I have the time and access.

But there is one measure that applies to governments at all levels from town to sovereign, that is simple, very difficult to subvert, and should be capable of short and long term fundamental improvement in how governments work and how well.

Set geometric limits on the circumference to area ratios of voting districts.

It's as simple as simple gets. Simply provide a maximum numerical ratio, where the length of the line one would draw to go all the way around a voting district can only be but so complex. This simple thing would, right there, cut way down on gerrymandering, one of the most pernicious kinds of political gamesmanship. Ideally, such a law would also limit the degree of change a district could be subjected to in a given period of time. There are dozens of possible nuances that I leave as an exercise for the reader. You're smart folks, afaict; you'll see them just fine. And, as always, you're welcome to comment below.

Think about it.

Comments

[Joseph Logan]

The idea makes sense. How would you promote it such that people of all educational levels could understand it? Can you think of a pithy way to communicate the idea?

[RustinHWright]

I'm working on it. I suspect that if there were ever an idea that would gain from visual aids, this is it. Less "policy" voice, more Saturday Night Live/Jon Stewart. And, as it happens, I know some wordsmiths who are far more suited to this kind of challenge then I am and plenty of good artists. If she's up for it, I may yet recruit Liz Baillie, who has already done excellent visual work for me, to dive into this one. Any suggestions you've got would certainly also be welcome.

Oh, and btw, I love your blog. Clearly we've met in a past life or something ;-> We should get together and discuss ways to get Thaler elected president or something.