On the agenda for its Wednesday meeting, the Lebanon City Council has included the discussion of a resolution calling for nonpartisan, transparent and fair redistricting of electoral districts throughout New Hampshire.
Every 10 years, every state uses new U.S. Census data to reapportion its voting maps, a process called redistricting. When those maps get manipulated to benefit the party in power, that process becomes gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is what happened to many New Hampshire voting districts in 2011.
Ten years later, with a similar Legislature in control, it is possible that our electoral districts could be further gerrymandered. Such a development would be bad for all voters, no matter what party they belong to.
Districts that are no longer competitive cause voters not to participate because the outcome is fixed. Uncompetitive, gerrymandered districts also mean that an individual’s vote matters less. No matter a voter’s party, or even if the voter is unaffiliated, every person’s vote should be counted, and it should matter.
The New Hampshire Resolution for Fair Nonpartisan Redistricting is a nonbinding measure being proposed in more than 100 towns around the state. The resolution sends a message from our city to our elected officials in Concord that New Hampshire voters want the redistricting process to be fair, nonpartisan and transparent.
Our elected officials should honor our wishes and demand of their party leadership to do the right thing for all Granite Staters for this redistricting process.
The best solution is to establish an independent redistricting commission for future redistricting. Attend Wednesday’s City Council meeting to support the resolution, and then again attend the Feb. 17 meeting when, we hope, the council will formally adopt the resolution.
BILL SECORD
West Lebanon
Editor’s note: For information on how to participate virtually in Lebanon city meetings, visit lebanonnh.gov/live.
HB 20 comes before the New Hampshire House Education Committee on Tuesday. It is an insult to our public schools and the dedicated people who serve in them. With HB 20, possibly the broadest voucher program in the country, New Hampshire’s school funding would essentially be distributed families to use as they wish. Do we really believe that every parent knows more about education than teachers and administrators?
Public schools are a foundation of our democracy. They ensure equal opportunity for our children, whatever background they come from. A program that inevitably draws funding from public schools and uses state resources to fund institutions that are often without oversight or regulation is not giving each of our children an equal chance.
This bill would damage our state’s future. It includes no accreditation requirements and could lead to for-profit schools and discriminatory practices. Most tragically, voucher programs damage student outcomes. In long-term studies, they have consistently resulted in lower math and reading scores. Is this what we want for our children? Is this what we want for the future of our state?
ELIZABETH KNOX
Grantham
I agree with Forum contributor Sue Spademan’s insistence on bringing the perpetrators of violence against Alicia Barrow and her family to justice (“Track down and prosecute those who made threats,” Jan 28).
It was a year ago that Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan shocked social justice advocates with his decision that there wasn’t enough evidence to bring criminal charges against white supremacists harassing former Bennington state Rep. Kiah Morris.
Have we learned anything at all from our recent violent past in Vermont, in other states and at the Capitol? It is time for all of us to practice anti-racism. I was outraged but didn’t say anything to support Morris, but I will not stay silent against hate, not now or ever again.
SHARON RACUSIN
Norwich
Regarding Friday’s truly outstanding commentary on gender bias in the media (“Vermont media must end gender bias in its coverage of women,” Jan. 29): Hear! Hear!
My heartfelt thanks to the authors and all the co-signers.
Now, please craft a slightly revised version that preserves the parts of it that are applicable everywhere (which is most of it) and broadcast it around the nation and around the world.
ALICE SCHORI
Canaan
It is clear that a majority of Republicans in Congress have pledged allegiance to Donald Trump, rather than to the Constitution. They took the solemn oath to uphold the Constitution at all times. They are not doing their job.
Trump was correct when he said he could shoot someone and would get away with it. This time, I believe, he is responsible for the deaths of five people and will not be held accountable.
I hoped that a sense of morality would impel Republicans to do the right thing and convict this criminal. Unfortunately, it appears that most of them lack any morals. They must have been frightened when the Capitol was breeched and the lives of their colleagues were endangered. Now that does not matter.
The message being sent to our young people by these Republicans is that as long as you are white and support the Trumpian cult, all crimes and misdeeds you commit will be ignored. How to make America great!
SARAH STABLEFORD
East Thetford