"Every election is a sort of advance auction of stolen goods." -- H.L Mencken

Let’s pretend that “Redistricting” council districts is about fairness and representative democracy -- or not -- since fairness is the first thing thrown under the bus when a redistricting commission is formed with a nearly impossible political task.

 

To create a fair field without favor we could divide the city into nine city council district (one new) which might be determined by any of several criterions. For instance: Divide between Jews and Christians (Jews were formerly prohibited from living in La Jolla) but then we’d have to decide Orthodox or Reform, then in dividing between Catholics and Protestants, then we’d have to decide between Baptists, Methodists and Episcopalians, etc. You see where I’m going once on the road to group representation.

 

Once upon a time there were considered to be only three races, "Caucasoid," "Negroid," and "Mongoloid," but politics now divides the three according to the Census into 192 depending in which state you live, how much money’s on the table, and how many votes each can deliver. No, I’m not suggesting 192 council districts.

 

Supposedly Hispanics, i.e., Spanish, Mexicans, Cubans and Latinos are a homogeneous group and already have one forever Hispanic seat on the council so how about a new district for Asians, after all Asians now out number Blacks (14.8% vs. 6.8%).   Theoretically the Black community also has its own forever seat with one councilman speaking for every Black man, woman and child who we’re supposed to believe all think alike and can righteously be represented by a single Black voice.

 

But a separate district for Asians?  Maybe not a good idea.  To be truly representative of Asians we would have to have sub-council districts for Cambodians, Filipinos, Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese (except Taiwanese), Japanese, and the remaining 11 Asian divisions categorized by the Census Bureau.  Furthermore, after Jews, the Japanese and Chinese have the highest per capita incomes which in itself is considered unfair by some. Even if comprised of higher average household ages than other ethnic groups meaning they’re in their peak earning years.  Or is discriminating against older groups okay if to favor younger households such as Blacks and Mexicans who’s average age is half and therefore in the early stages of their working careers?

 

What about Iranians and Iraqis who are surely underrepresented?  Elections are no longer about who’s best for conducting the administrative affairs of government, but who gives and who gets the fishes and the loaves, which explains the intense interest in the Redistricting Commission.  Surprisingly many elected officials don’t get it and it’s doubtful current council members even understand how they’re manipulated --- that by simply drawing lines a couple of blocks one way or the other determines how millions in federal funds are awarded according to census tracts in a council district.  You’d be amazed what a difference juggling a few census tracts can make.  District demographics can be altered with the stroke of a pen.

 

Here are some more things you’re not supposed to know about city elections: While all below were elected by so-called majority vote none received what honestly could be called a mandate from voters.

 

Mayor Sanders who won re-election without a run off received approval of only 18% of those registered to vote and for fun, just 9% or 116,527 votes out of the city’s total population. Still, under the rules, it was a decisive win in the Primary and rules determine the outcome of any game.

 

Sherri Lightner, Todd Gloria and Marti Emerald each only received about 38% approval from those registered to vote.  Carl DeMaio, David Alvarez and Lori Zapf received 23%, 25% and 29% respectively, while, Tony Young and Kevin Faulconer, were elected with 16% and 18%.

 

Obviously, all received even less support from their districts if you include adults not registered --- in other words, from the entire population by which their districts are drawn.  It’s self evident that we are ruled by a minority of registered voters. Nonetheless, no doubt all those elected feel they have a mandate to impose their personal visions and beliefs on the rest of us.

 
         The ideal government of all reflective men, from Aristotle onward, is one which lets the individual
           alone---one which barely escapes being no government at all."     H.L Mencken

 

Redistricting is about determining which distinct groups of people are best organized politically to determine who determines who gets what from government --- and who pays. If, however, this Redistricting Commission divides each council district more or less equally between registered Democrats, Republicans and Independents, one-third each, we’ll know that it’s not politics as usual and the ” beginnings” of a fair field without favor.  Let the major parties compete for the Independents.  However, even this does not address the much larger question --- what is the proper role of government in the eyes of our  founding fathers --- how much control to which Mencken alludes --- does not constrain our liberties but secures them. 

 

 

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                      Schnaubelt, president of Citizens for Private Property Rights, has been a commercial real estate broker
                                               for 39 years and was a San Diego City Councilman from 1977-81.
 

                                 Fred Schnaubelt, 2728 Adams Ave, S.D. 92116 (619) 280-2082
 

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