Readers debate redistricting, Jim Cooper and political fairness | Letters

Political parties only want to stay in power

Well, as I child I heard quite frequently, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Voter suppression has been a hot topic for quite a while. This is usually talked about in the context of closing voter sites, restricting mail in ballots etc.

Well, our great state of Tennessee got creative.

Redistricting Nashville to make sure that the state will continue with its proud history of a Republican-controlled representation being elected to serve in Congress and any other party didn't stand a chance.

Please note, I consider myself neither Republican nor Democrat, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this redistricting will adversely affect minority voting, civil rights, the long forgotten notion of representation for all and much more.

I am not sure if the Democratic Party was in majority, they would not have done the same thing since both parties are only concerned with "their policies" and staying in majority.

Shame on all of you.

I would make an appeal for the governor not to sign the bill. In case you missed it, the last sentence was your joke for today.

Marie Hopins, Hermitage 37076

I will not support candidates who play to cheat

Is it any wonder why the Republicans have had to move the goal posts in the middle of the game (gerrymandering)? They did it because they do not want to play fair!

As a lifelong Nashville resident, I have voted in close to every election for 51 years, crossing party lines, voting for the person not the party.

It infuriates me that my city has to be torn apart so that the Republicans can be sure of a win. For that reason, I vow to never play (vote) on the side of cheaters. I believe in truth, honesty, fairness, equality, and empathy.

Looks like the Republicans want to lie, cheat, steal, discriminate and could care less about who it affects.

Libby Perryman, Nashville 37215

Lawmakers will answer for their actions

To Americans lamenting the ongoing, widespread destruction of democracy it seems little can be done to win against those bent on suppressing our Constitutional rights.

Tennessee has manipulated voting districts into shapes so unwieldy that voting will be anything but the “increased representation for Nashville” its proponents claim. But remember, life has always taught us if something looks too easy, we should be wary of its potential outcome.

Many members of the Tennessee Legislature refer to themselves as Christian, a reasonable definition of which is someone who’s state of mind and behavior are indicative of Christ.

Saying you are Christian is easy. However, living so that one’s behavior reflects the mind and teachings of Christ often eludes those who don’t appear to understand the accountability for Christians who misrepresent the Spirit of God.

Speeches in the Capitol are one thing but standing in front of a mirror with God as the only witness has inescapable and enduring consequences. Rest assured, there will come a day of answerability for those rejecting truth and light and it could lead to irreversible verdicts of eternal joy or something else, political affiliation notwithstanding.

The God in whom we proclaim to trust is not as easily deceived as Tennessee Republican legislators seem to want us to believe.

Ken Hughes, Franklin 37067

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Tennessee marginalized progressive majority in Nashville

As a 32-year resident of Nashville (originally from Minnesota), I am both appalled and disheartened that the Republican ideological zealots in the Tennessee legislature have moved to split up Nashville as a congressional district, causing our fine U.S. House Representative Jim Cooper to conclude it would be impossible to seek and win reelection as his district has now been essentially eliminated through gerrymandering.

This will likely eliminate true and fair representation for our vibrant and diverse city.

BACK TO COURT: How Tennessee legislature's new district maps will drag them back to court | Hunt

As I have watched our state drift evermore radical in its right- wing political representation, I have taken some solace in knowing that I live in a city and community that belies that trend with leadership that still is committed to represent all of us.

I have questioned if the time might come when we lose that because of the arrogance and extremism of the Tennessee Republican Party super majority in the legislature and our equally radical governor who it seems have no desire to represent our diverse and progressive constituency (qualities that have allowed our city to thrive and prosper).

I sadly believe that dark day is here.

Gary Bergin, Nashville 37215

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Jim Cooper served long enough

Don’t you think 32 years of career politician, Jim Cooper, is enough?

He pretended to be a conservative or at least moderate Tennessean, but always went along to get along with Democratic policies.

Time for a change. Vote for Robby Starbuck!

John Rowenczak, Nashville 37221

Democrats don't like gerrymandering when it hurts them

It’s amazing how Tennessee Democrats deplore what they call gerrymandering in Tennessee yet fully endorse its occurrence elsewhere.

Jim Kennedy, Smyrna 37167

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Cooper is the epitome of a public servant

As a political science professor, I rarely used the term public servant in describing elected officials. That was reserved for those who truly did an exceptional job working for the greater good.

One person that I did not hesitate to describe as a public servant was Jim Cooper, Congressman for Tennessee’s Fifth District. He has worked diligently to promote the interest of Nashville and surrounding areas. Likewise, he sought to better America as a whole. He has been a caring, honest, and independent thinking representative.

Thank You: Thank you for your service, Congressman Jim Cooper | Editorial

While on sabbatical, I worked in Congressman Cooper’s office. I saw up close how his office operated. It was fact driven, not politically driven.

I watched with deep admiration as he took time over and over to meet with student interns. Congressman Cooper would quiz them on their reading assignments and challenge them to see deeper truths.

Others also saw his outstanding attributes as illustrated by an article published in the New York Times describing him as “a lonely voice of civility in this ugly era” and dubbed him the “conscience” of the U.S. House of Representatives. That he was.

Dwight Tays, Nashville 37221

New district maps show how power has affected GOP

Gov. Bill Lee stated that he would sign the new gerrymandered redistricting map. That is his right although he is extremely wrong in doing so.

According to the politicos, the Tennessee House will probably lose five of the few seats they currently hold giving the Republicans an even stronger hold on Tennessee politics.

The Tennessee delegation in the U.S. House will probably lose one of their two Democrats. But what is worse, the urban population of middle Tennessee will completely lose representation in the U.S. House.

The Republicans are throwing smoke when they say that Davidson County will now have three representatives instead of one. In reality, representation of Davidson County will be diluted to being only a small part of three largely rural and Republican districts.

Someone once said: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely." Well, here we are.

Albert Hubbard, Hendersonville 37075

Why splitting Nashville into three congressional districts is wrong

I would like to express my strong opposition to the Tennessee congressional redistricting proposal that was recently made public. I believe that it does not serve the best interests of the people of Davidson County or Tennessee.

There are four principles for drawing congressional districts: compactness, contiguity, equal population, and preserving county and city boundaries.

Davidson County currently is entirely within District 5. The proposed redistricting divided Davidson County into three separate congressional districts. This clearly violates the principle of preservation of county and city boundaries. In fact, Davidson County is the only county in Tennessee that would be divided into three separate congressional districts.

Davidson County would cease being in a district that is composed of three counties (along with Cheatham and Dickson) to having fragments of itself distributed across District 5 (which would include five other counties), District 6 (with 17 other counties), and District 7 (with 12 other counties). This action would severely diminish the ability of Davidson County citizens to have their needs represented and addressed on a national level.

This proposal undermines the very intention of our Founding Fathers in creating a House of Representatives that would provide a venue in which the voice and interests of ordinary citizens living in areas of differing needs could be heard at a national level.

I ask Governor Lee and the Tennessee State Legislature to send the redistricting bill back to committee and demand a proposal that provides a more equitable approach for representation of Davidson County and Middle Tennessee in the US House of Representatives.

Mace Rothenberg, Nashville 37212

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Readers debate redistricting, Jim Cooper and political fairness