The Intelligence from The Economist Census and sensibility: landmark SCOTUS rulings
Jun 28, 2019
Stephen Mazy, who covers the Supreme Court for The Economist, and Alexandra Sewage Bass, a columnist on Silicon Valley culture for 1843 magazine, dive into pivotal U.S. Supreme Court rulings affecting voter representation and gerrymandering. They discuss how a citizenship question in the census could disenfranchise minorities. The conversation shifts to increasing tensions between the U.S. and China amid trade disputes, and they explore the surrogacy boom in Silicon Valley, reflecting changing family dynamics and legal challenges.
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Supreme Court's Reluctance to Politicization
- The Supreme Court's recent decisions on voter representation reveal a reluctance to be politicized.
- These rulings impact how voters are represented and the court's role in politics.
Impact of Gerrymandering
- Gerrymandering, enabled by software, allows manipulation of district boundaries for political gain.
- This can lead to disproportionate representation, as seen in North Carolina.
Implications for Future Elections
- State legislatures may now attempt to manipulate district lines without federal court intervention.
- This raises concerns about entrenching political power and rigging elections.
