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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Subject: | RE: GISList: Ouch! What timing.... |
| Date: |
11/22/2002 09:57:15 AM |
| From: |
Dimitri Rotow |
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>
> No doubt that maps are continually used for political/economic gain,
> they are very effective at that, the good along with the bad. However,
> given the historical apathetic voter turnout across the land, I'd
> suspect that folks see through it all and realize just how little
> influence they truly have.
>
>
I certainly agree with you about the apathy, but I think that is a secondary
effect that arises from general disgust at the political class. Being
apathetic about voting is different than having your vote stolen from you if
you are still foolish enough to think your vote should count the same as
anyone else.
The difference is that Gerrymandering strikes right at the heart of the
voting process to (effectively) delete the votes of those few who are still
care enough to vote. It is also a very unusual case where maps and GIS are
not used (bet it falsely or accurately) not merely to persuade people but
rather to change the very structure of the constitutional republic. It
literally has the same effect as if the Constitution were changed to say
that only 3% of Representatives would have to run every other year and that
all the others could serve until they chose to retire.
I suppose there are some other examples of administrative rulings and laws
that are based on GIS, where the specific digital map created by someone
becomes codified in law and carries with it the coercive power of the state
(flood zone maps and wetlands maps come to mind), but I can't think of any
example other than Gerrymandering that has such a universal effect, nor can
I think of any other example where GIS has been deliberately used by
politicians to render inoperative a key part of the Constitution.
I also can't help but feel (to return somewhat to the original theme of this
thread) that if Americans were not as ignorant of geography as they are that
they would not tolerate this theft of their right to vote in free and fair
elections. It's a more subtle and technically complex issue than knowing
where the Pacific Ocean is, but I think ultimately it has a much greater
effect on how life is lived in the US.
Cheers,
Dimitri
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