Michael Ahern, Blacklick
My name is Michael Ahern from Blacklick, OH. I have voted in every local, state, and federal election since I was first eligible to vote in the 1980’s. I am not affiliated with any political party and never have been. I vote more conservatively on some issues and more liberally on others. I am not beholden to any political party or political ideology, and I increasingly am not represented in the political process because of political gerrymandering in Ohio.
I am gravely concerned that gerrymandering is inflaming divisiveness and hurting not only the standing, but the actual power and influence that the United States has held worldwide for close to two centuries as it emerged from colonialism and began forming a more perfect Union under the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The Framers were very deliberate in the wording and structure of our founding documents. Nowhere in any of these documents did they provide for a role, let alone outsized power and influence that political parties have gained over the past two and a half centuries. Several Framers foresaw and expressed concern about the raw power of political parties, not the least of which was George Washington. One of the key tools used by various political parties has been to leverage gerrymandering into raw political power. I share the concerns of George Washington and fear the path we are on as a result of political gerrymandering.
“Taxation without representation” was a rallying cry in the founding of our country. More broadly speaking, it was the act of being governed (or application of law) without representation that led to the American Revolution. I submit that an increasing number of registered voters across Ohio, including me, are being subjected to laws without true representation. Political parties divvying up voting blocks when politicians “pick” voters while drawing congressional district boundaries to suit political party expediency is not what our founding fathers intended and is not consistent with the ideals of true representative democracy in our founding documents.
We are a nation of laws, but when laws are passed within a framework of one-sided, “winner takes all” governing, citizens like me are disenfranchised. Disenfranchised voters lead to increased frustration and frustrations have contributed significantly to the social splits we see today. In short, my view is that hyper-partisanship resulting from politically gerrymandered districts does a great disservice to our great and enduring republic and is a contributor to protests, violence, and a fraying of American society.
Political gerrymandering is not just inconsistent with the ideals of our nation, it is also bad for sound governance and policy-making. Current Ohio congressional districts were drawn by both major political parties to create pockets of “safe” districts, with the current imbalance of power in favor of the Republican Party. As a result, independent registered voters like me have watched increasingly partisan candidates emerge from the respective party primaries. It is alarming to me that moderate voices in each Party are increasingly “primaried” by hyper-partisan candidates or take more partisan positions on issues during the primary process in Ohio and nationwide in order to proceed to the general election. Combined with “safe” districts, people who have unbending and radical views on a variety of issues are being sent to the statehouse and Congress. It also appears that reliance on lobbyists and monied interests is more palatable once an incumbent makes it to the general election because a serious threat to reelection is close to nonexistent in gerrymandered Districts (HB 6 is just one example that affects every taxpayer in Ohio). This is untenable and must be corrected.
Intransigence by strong partisans and unwillingness to develop compromise and more balanced legislation also leads to either not addressing important issues affecting me and my community, or results in lopsided legislation (e.g., the passage of the Affordable Care Act or allowing concealed carry of firearms with no required training). Lopsided legislation increasingly finds its remedy in the courts. Involving the courts increases uncertainty and uncertainty is bad for citizens and businesses. Uncertainty infringes on economic stability and stifles innovation. Alternatively, balanced legislation reduces the probability of serious legal challenge and increases confidence and certainty, particularly for business. And it all starts with “fair” districts, where people running for office must compete on ideas that appeal to a wider mix of voter ideologies and life experiences.
Our governing system was designed with competing ideas as a foundation and compromise as the cement of stability in establishing and enforcing our laws. As a voting citizen, I support and expect that the redistricting reforms passed by overwhelming percentages of Ohio voters will be fully and transparently implemented by the Ohio Redistricting Commission this year.
Only sunshine patriots who are weak in political fortitude and averse to vigorous debate of ideas to address complex issues will shrink to the shadows of closed doors and partisan deal-making in order to maintain the system of “safe” districts.
I want our state to emerge from redistricting this year with fair, competitive districts.
Michael Ahern, Blacklick, Ohio