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from the the-simple-answer-is-that-there-isn't-a-simple-solution dept.
The problems of gerrymandering are manifold, often debated and lamented. Now, a group of computational geometers from Tufts, MIT and others are working the problem from different fronts. From https://sites.tufts.edu/gerrymandr/
The Metric Geometry and Gerrymandering Group (MGGG) is a small Boston-based team of mathematicians launched by Moon Duchin of Tufts University. Our mission is to study applications of geometry and computing to U.S. redistricting. We believe that gerrymandering of all kinds is a fundamental threat to our democracy.
Our goals are:
- to pursue cutting-edge research in the practically relevant applications of geometry, topology, and computing to the redistricting problem;
- to foster collaboration with researchers in statistics, supercomputing, law, political science, and other fields;
- to facilitate direct civic engagement by training scholars from a variety of quantitative backgrounds to serve as expert witnesses and consultants in redistricting cases;
- to educate the public, both through direct outreach and by helping college and high school teachers incorporate units on voting, gerrymandering, and civil rights into the mathematics curriculum;
- to build a diverse community of mathematically inclined people around the country and give them the knowledge and the tools to hold map-drawers accountable when 2020 comes around.
And from https://sites.tufts.edu/gerrymandr/get-involved/
We are assembling a team of mathematicians, lawyers, statisticians, and active citizens of all stripes to work on practical metrics and solutions for gerrymandering in advance of the 2020 U.S. Census. If you're interested in joining our community, please fill out our Skills and Interest Inventory form.
For anyone that wants to get up to speed on this complex and important topic, https://sites.tufts.edu/gerrymandr/resources/ is a page of links to a variety of related papers and articles.
SN discussed the math of the gerrymander back in 2014,
https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=14/12/27/1148245
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 05 2018, @03:12PM (2 children)
If you think gerrymandering and congressional district "borders" has anything to do with immigration... you might be a moron.
(Score: 1, Troll) by VLM on Thursday July 05 2018, @05:10PM
If you don't, you might be a commie?
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday July 05 2018, @05:22PM
As an example of the problem, random Mexican citizens get to vote in the 3rd district whenever they feel like it, but I can't, because I'm merely a citizen living in the 2nd.
Seems unfair that foreign citizens have better representation in our government than actual citizens get. Equal protection clause and all that other obsolete "hate speech" stuff.
If random Mexicans get to vote in the 3rd district, I should get to vote in Mexican elections either by ballot or by sending in a Army tank division. Its only fair.