Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current, August 17, 2011, Image 3

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Flagpole., August 17, 2011, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextDISTRICTING FOR DUMMIES Note to readers: Flagpole published this column 20 years ago, well before I even started working here. The Democrats, who were riding high at the time, ignored my advice, and look what happened to them. With reap portionment occurring again, it is time to take another look at this simple but revolutionary approach. This is the way to put an end to partisan bickering and rancor forever, though the majority party will remain in the majority, so it has nothing to lose in changing to this fair and balanced system. I re-offer this scheme purely as a public service and not at all out of laziness, of course. A few facts, such as the number of congressional districts, have been updated from the original column, which has also been slightly shortened to fit this space. Our state legislature has drawn congressional districts for the 21st century as if the mule and plow were still the cutting edge of technology. They have run lines around enough people to create an African-American district. They have detoured down country roads to gerrymander our only Republican con gressman [!]. They have created districts a day's drive from one end to the other. All this energy and effort to define areas encompassing enough people to support a congressman. Do you really care whether you live in the 10th District or the 4th, as long as you live in Athens? Do you even know who your congressman is? Have you ever seen one? Have you ever written your congressman? What did you get in return, a form letter? Do you care whether Bogart is in your district? Why don't we quit playing these meaningless and expensive districting games? A simple change in the law could let your Social Security card determine your congressional district. Then it wouldn't matter where you or your congressman live. Take the Social Security num bers of everybody 18 and older; sort them into 14 districts. Send a list—-with names, addresses and telephone numbers—to each congressman and say, "Here's your district." Make the who want to run for Congress. Everybody 18 and above with a Social Security number is auto matically eligible to vote. But wait a minute. How are congressmen going to cam paign? Same way they do now: by cranking out all that politi cal literature they can mail free of charge. Mail doesn't cost a bit more to Alma than it does to Athens. Let all the congressmen and the candidates go on the public TV network like Zell did. Maybe they could help out when it's fund-raising time. We could see them in operation and get a good test of their persuasiveness. Chaos? Members of R.E.M. in different congressional districts? Husbands and wives? So what? If anything, the arrangement would focus us on the issues important to every body—clean water and air, sidewalk cafes—and lessen the divisive issues like tobacco subsidies vs. mountain protection. But people would lose their sense of identity if their con gressional districts weren't defined geographically? No. Look at the opportunities. Congressmen could send out lapel pins identifying the wearer as 4th District or 1st. "What's your district?" could replace "What's your sign?" at the Globe. The state could dent the deficit with prestige auto tags: "Honk if you love the 6th." We could have things in common with people all over Georgia. Right now, if you drive down to Nahunta, everybody you meet is in the 1st District. It's boring. Under the new plan, you can find members of your district wherever you go, from Rabun Gap to Tybee Light. Even in Atlanta. And that's another point. As the state's population grows and centers increasingly around Atlanta, the metro area gets the new districts. Voting power concentrates there. Under the new plan, by random sort every district will have a strong dose of Atlanta, balanced by the rest of the state. I could go on—political rallies in the stadium attended by district members from all over the state, district colors, mas cots, cars with flags—but the advantages are obvious. Meanwhile, the legislature is plowing new lines around vot ers. How simple it could be... "Hey, baby, with eyes like those, you gotta be an 8. Wanna talk politics?" - Members of R.E.M. in different congressional districts? lists available to candidates Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: Ij^EWS <§s FEATURES City Dope 4 Athens News and Views Can a billion UGA students help us figure out reapportionment and the River District? Online Resources for Newcomers . .9 UGA and the Classic City on the Web Some handy bookmarks to help-get you oriented and on the move. 13 Hello. New in Town? Athens has a welcoming and vibrant art scene; check it out. Art Notes Theatre Notes 15 Out of the Doldrums There's lots of new theatre around this month and in the coming year. Till I’MM.RSin nl Cl oi:i.I V College of Veterinary Medicine Community Pet Clinic Helping to t rainJunior row's veterinarians We are a full-service small animal clinic offering: • Routine spays/neuters for dogs and cats • Dermatology and Behavior services • Competitive pricing • Easy referral to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital if needed Open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. By appointment: 706.542.1984 Drop-offs and walk-ins welcome www.vet.uga.edu/CPC Threats & Promises 18 Music News and Gossip Zumm Zumm to reunite! Widespread Panic tix on sale this weekend! Re-issues from Olivia Tremor Control! Gigging Dos and Don’ts 26 How to Win Gigs and Influence Drunk People More advice for the freshmen and young artists in town. CITY DOPE 4 CITY PAGES 5 CAPITOL IMPACT 6 ATHENS RISING 7 ATHENS LAND TRUST 8 ONLINE RESOURCES 9 KIDDIE DOPE 10 ART NOTES 13 THEATRE NOTES 15 MOVIE DOPE 16 FILM NOTEBOOK 17 THREATS & PROMISES 18 EUREKA CALIFORNIA 19 ATHENS FASHION 20 THE QUEERS 23 FALL MUSIC PREVIEW 24 GIGGING 26 THE CALENDAR! 27 BULLETIN BOARD 36 ART AROUND TOWN 37 COMICS 38 REALITY CHECK 39 CLASSIFIEDS 40 EVERYDAY PEOPLE 43 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR l PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Melinda Edwards. Jessica Pritchard MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gitzenrat CITY EDITOR Dave Marr CLASSIFIEDS, DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER Nico Cashin A0 OESIGNERS Kelly Ruberto, Cindy Jerrell CARTOONISTS Cameron Bogue, Nicole DuBose. Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, David Mack ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell CONTRIBUTORS Caroline Barratt, Christopher Joshua Benton, Kevin Craig. Tom Crawford, Chris Hassiotis, Katie Goodrum, John Huie, Gordon Lamb, Kristen Morales, John G. Nettles, Emily Patrick, Jessica Smith, Drew Wheeler. Kevan Williams, Alec Wooden, Marshall Yarbrough CIRCULATION Charles Greenleat, Nash Hogan. Jesse Mangum, Matt Shirley WEB DESIGNER Kelly Ruberto ADVERTISING t EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jessica Smith ADVERTISING INTERNS Anne-Cathenne Harris, Ashley Laramore MUSIC INTERNS Chris Miller, Brian Walter featuring COVER DESIGN by K art illustration STREET ADDRESS: 112 Foundry St.. Athens, GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603 EDITORIAL (706) 549-9523 ADVERTISING: (706) 549-0301 FAX: (706) 548-8981 ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com CALENDAR: calendar@flagpole.com COMICS: comics@flagpole.com EDITORIAL- editor@flagpole.com UTTERS: letters@flagpole.com MUSIC.- music@flagpole.com NEWS: news@flagpole.com WEBSITE: web@flagpole.com flagpole. Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly and distributes 17,000 copies free at over 275 locations around Athens, Georgia. Subscriptions cost $55 a year, $35 for six months. © 2011 Flagpole, Inc. All nghts reserved. VOLUME 25 ISSUE NUMBER 32 @ 0 0 Allocution ol Alternative Newin*etlin t. 11<< i I M H >\ | VERIFICATION | i i) ; \ (. ii Restaurant “The Food is Our Reputation" LUNCH BUFFET Available 6 Days a Week at Peking Eastside Location Only DINE IN • TAKE OUT • DEL'^RY 706-549-0274 Major Credit Cards & Checks Accepted Green Acres Shopping Center • 1935 Barnett Shoals Rd. 7®r If vyUGA theLslassic niuttmu 91.7 mi 973 „„ Public^ Radio for Athens and Northeast Georgia 706-542-9842 • www.wuga.org Your Oasis for Ideas and the Arts flagpole \ * «mA.< ★ Htkty Wl.’CiA i> .i broadcast service* of the I imersity of Li corgi a WWW. FLAGPOLE .COM AUGUST 17, 2011 FLAGPOLE.COM 3