George Will on Texas Redistricting, Political Tactics, and the State of Democracy

The Ethics of Redistricting

• 💡 George Will argues that Texas should not be engaging in mid-decade redistricting, calling it a step toward the "banana republicization of the United States."
• 🎯 He criticizes the tactic of changing rules mid-competition, stating it's not just about reciprocity but about doing "a little bit more to others than what has been done on to you."
• 🔑 The practice of ignoring the previous census and not waiting for the next is described as having "no manners" in political discourse.

Historical Precedents and Political Tactics

• 🚀 Will recalls instances like Democrats fleeing Wisconsin to Illinois to avoid a vote, highlighting Illinois as a "sanctuary city for unhappy Democrats."
• ⚖️ He notes that Congress has the power to override state redistricting laws under Article 1, Section 4, but is not functioning as a body to do so.
• 🗣️ The discussion touches on historical parallels, including the 1790s with the rise of party systems and harsh rhetoric, and the origin of the term "gerrymandering" in Massachusetts.

The Extremes of Modern Politics

• ⚠️ The conversation addresses extreme rhetoric from figures like Charlie Kirk and Jasmine Crockett, with Kirk's "great replacement" theory being called "sinister."
• 🎯 Will suggests that the current political landscape, driven by primaries, favors the most extreme candidates, leading to a "comprehensive failure of the political market."
• 📊 He believes there is a large, unserved market in the "center of the politics" that a unifying figure could tap into.

Media's Role and Future Outlook

• 📰 Will criticizes the establishment media for giving Democrats a "complete pass" on gerrymandering, making it seem like a recent Republican invention.
• 🔍 He points out that the Supreme Court has deemed partisan gerrymandering non-justiciable, leaving it to the parties themselves.
• ✅ Despite the current state of affairs, Will expresses a tempered optimism that political markets will eventually work, leading to a party that addresses the unserved voters.
• 🏛️ He acknowledges that the founders did not envision the current level of partisan conflict and the tactics employed today.