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![\"SD28_Map.JPG\"](\"http:\/\/www.windsofchange.net\/SD28_Map.JPG\")
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Note the way that the conservative Palos Verdes peninsula is joined by a strip of land the width of the beach to the more-conservative community of Long Beach, rendering what was a potentially balanced district – including both Venice and Palos Verdes – firmly Democratic.<\/p>\n
There are arguments about the impact of this, but the reality – as I see it – is that this insulates the elected officials from the people they are supposed to represent, and it encourages more extreme and intransigent partisanship because in reality, the only race that matters is the primary – where the most dedicated partisans have the greatest voice.<\/p>\n
Year, after year, our political leadership has lied to us about their willingness to do something about this issue. Here’s LA Times correspondent George Skelton in 2007<\/a>:<\/p>\n Let’s back up and recall the precise promise.<\/p>\n \nIn 2005, Schwarzenegger was backing a goofy redistricting proposal on his special election ballot. It would have forced a mid-decade redistricting, rather than waiting for the customary next census. Worse, it would have required any redistricting to be approved by a statewide vote, a political consultants\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bonanza.<\/p>\n \nIf voters would reject the governor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ballot proposition, Perata told me, “Our commitment… is to fashion a bipartisan solution in a thoughtful way and put it on the ballot next year.” Ditto, said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu\u00c3\u0192\u00c2\u00b1ez (D-Los Angeles).<\/p>\n \nThe Schwarzenegger measure was soundly rejected by nearly 60% of voters.<\/p>\n \nThen the Democratic leaders didn’t deliver.<\/p>\n \nSchwarzenegger, Perata and Nu\u00c3\u0192\u00c2\u00b1ez last week suggested that maybe they’d get it done next year and place a redistricting reform measure on the November 2008 ballot. Has a familiar ring.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We deserve better government than we have, and if the outrageous gerrymandering in this state is even potentially a barrier – let’s knock it down.<\/p>\n Yes on Proposition 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next, Proposition 8, which would change the California constitution to ban same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n