Redistricting letters: Democrats screaming murder like a 'stuck pig' are real hypocrites

Maybe jailing commission members would speed up map process

Seven of Ohio's top leaders must appear before Ohio Supreme Court to explain why they missed a court-imposed deadline to pass state House and Senate maps.

This hearing comes after the commission violated an Ohio Supreme Court order to draw new maps for House and Senate by Feb. 17.

More: Ohio Supreme Court orders Ohio Redistricting Commission to appear for contempt of court hearing

Several Republicans on the commission declared the task "impossible" after rejecting the Democrats' proposed maps. Maybe putting the members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission in jail (as the penalty for this offense) would create an atmosphere of cooperation.

More: Ohio Redistricting Commission approves 3rd set of House and Senate maps

It's embarrassing that this dispute has gone on for so long; it's time you act like you are responsible servants of the citizens of Ohio. Play nice...

Diane Cottrill-Miller, Gahanna

Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson: the Ohio Supreme Court on Friday postponed the contempt hearing for Ohio Redistricting Commission members.

"Maureen O'Connor needs to wake up"

One thing that's been left out of the Ohio redistricting reporting is that the Democrats are gerrymandering in all the states they control.

It's seems to be OK when they're doing it. But if the GOP does it, like a stuck pig, the Democrats scream bloody murder.

The Democrats will not be satisfied until the redistricting results benefit them.

More: Voters get fewer choices as Democrats and Republicans dig partisan trenches in redistricting

Ohio’s chief justice, a conservative, doesn't seem to understand how the Democrats operate. Maureen O'Connor needs to wake up. She should know better than to play this game with them.

There once was an alleged wise man, the so-called anointed one, who told the GOP to sit down and shut up because elections have consequences.

It would be nice if the Democrats would follow his advice.

Alan Bumgardner, Columbus

Fair redistricting is not rocket science

It must be incredibly difficult to draw a gerrymandered map. You must track each voter or election precinct and lump, split or shuffle them around to create an advantage for one political party or another.

More: Suddes: ...And the 'Academy Award' goes to DeWine, Faber and LaRose for gerrymandering

Also, you must consider the electoral fate of current legislators when crafting your map.

Hence, strangely shaped districts that meander across the state.

Instead, develop geographic principles to define legislative districts. Avoid splitting cities or counties. Define district boundaries using city or county lines, rivers or major highways.

More: Opinion: Lawmaker's 'rigged' map would steal Ohioans' right to representation

And most importantly, do not consider political party affiliation or previous election results when defining district boundaries. It’s probably as simple as clicking a button in the mapmaking software to turn off party affiliation or previous election results.

Maps would be simple to draw, fair and easy for the mapmakers to defend.

Districts would fairly reflect the results of the last several elections. One downside is the loss of districts with interesting shapes and entertaining names.

Rich Hall, Columbus

'Hypocrites' ignore blue-state gerrymandering

Elbridge Gerry was a member of the precursor to the Democratic party and is the one who devised the scheme of gerrymandering.

More: What is gerrymandering? Redistricting means new winners and losers

Democrat Andrew Jackson feuded with Congressman Davy Crockett, so he ensured gerrymandering took place to oust him in the next election. Crockett, by the way, said people in Tennessee could go to hell and he would go to Texas, which didn't turn out so good for him.

You hypocrites are so outspoken about gerrymandering in a red state; but ignore its history of gerrymandering in blue states.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

More: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: What does the word gerrymandering come from?