Tom Ross sets the tone in first lecture in summer series

In an attempt to open up conversations to explore critical issues that affect our community, the Blowing Rock Per-Sisters has launched a summer series of nonpartisan lectures called A Civil Conversation. Our first event featured Dr. Tom Ross, President of the Volcker Alliance and President Emeritus of the UNC System. Dr. Ross shared insights into the ways partisan gerrymandering has harmed the functioning of our government at the federal and state level--he suggested that gridlock is a direct result of districts designed to benefit one party or another. He laid the blame for such districts on both Democrats and Republicans (that is, whichever party is in power strives to keep this power). He echoed calls to shift back to a system in which voters choose their representatives rather than representatives choosing their voters.

When asked for suggestions to make changes, he recommended we contact our legislators to ask them to redraw districts in fair ways that do not tilt the scale towards one party or another. He recommended connecting with two national groups: Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

Finally, he shared that his group was recommending a constitutional amendment to stop partisan gerrymandering because one of the obstacles to revising this system is that even if, for example, the Republican majority in Raleigh could muster the courage to end partisan gerrymandering (and put their own majority in risk because of such a change), there is always the possibility that when power shifts, the new majority will overturn their legislation and return to partisan gerrymandering.

One of his most noteworthy quotes was this: "The best friend of redistricting is uncertainty." That is, demographics are constantly changing, so for this reason, he argues, it is in the best interest of all citizens to support fair districts for the long term.

Special thanks to Jeff Eason for his coverage of this event at the Blowing Rocket: http://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/tom-ross-speaks-at-summer-lecture-series/article_5e44a459-23f6-599e-8bcf-f4a24c91b251.html

https://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/tom-ross-and-mark-venable/image_d59739c4-d58d-53c6-bf5c-a124dc3240c5.html

And thank you to Beth Davison for videotaping and sharing the full lecture, below.