50/50 = 9/4? I’ll admit I did have trouble with differential
equations at Ga. Tech many years ago, but I do know that 50/50
does not equal 9/4 – except in politics, specifically in the art
of gerrymandering. 50/50: In the November elections in North
Carolina, the total votes for U.S. House of Representatives
candidates were divided about equally between the Democrats
(2,218,572) and Republicans (2,142,047). 9/4: But the election
resulted in nine Republicans and four Democrats being elected.
Why? Because the congressional districts established after the
2010 census were purposely gerrymandered by the General Assembly
to produce this skewed representation. In 2011 with bipartisan
support, the N.C. House passed HB824, “An Act to Establish a
Nonpartisan Redistricting Process.” The Senate chose not to
bring it up for a vote. But Common Cause/NC and other good-
government groups are continuing our efforts to make nonpartisan
redistricting a reality in 2020. I encourage readers to ask
their legislators to work for th