To the editor: Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urges California voters to reject the redistribution of districts/gerrymandering, to vote against proposition 50 (“Schwarzenegger decreases polarization, criticizes Newsom Gerrymandering effort.” September 15). He argues that we should not fight for democracy by abandoning democratic principles.
Schwarzenegger, his problem is not with California voters. It is with the legislators and voters of Texas, Missouri and other red states, and with the president of the United States.
Democrats are often accused (rightly) of being too passive, of not defending themselves. In normal times, I would not want proposition 50; I don't know anyone who would. But I don't see any alternative.
Richard Shafarman, Santa Clarita
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To the editor: Schwarzenegger is being false. Proposition 50 is extremely democratic. Unlike Texans, Californians will vote if they want to move forward with the redistribution of districts. There will be a choice. The map will be on the ballot. In addition, proposition 50 does not “dismantle”, as Schwarzenegger said, the Independent Commission. The own 50 is designed to expire and restore the independent commission.
Look, nobody (except those looking for a power) likes Gerrymandering. It is trap. Fighting a cheater does not make you a cheater, and face a thug in the White House does not make you a thug. California did not choose this fight. But we cannot go to bed and let the authoritarian applicants survive us. Proposition 50 is transparent, it is temporary, and if you do not like the direction in which we are heading, voting “yes” is one of our latest possibilities to change this bus.
JB Newton, Studio City
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To the editor; In 2010, California voters overwhelmed proposition 20, 62.2% to 38.8%Giving authority of Congress districts to an independent citizen commission of 14 members. After having been an active defender of that measure, I must disagree with the feelings expressed by the commissioner and the guest collaborator, Isra Ahmad, in his support for the current prop. (“You are voting in a manipulated game. That is why proposition 50 is important”, September 17).
When President Trump convinced the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, in a reduction in the decade of the districts of the Texas Congress to give the Republican party the opportunity to win more seats in the election year 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom felt forced to respond with his own Gerryrigged games to give the additional democrats to the work of the citizens of our state.
Not only two errors do not make a right, but in recent years, both important political parties have been involved in an accelerated race towards the bottom in which the search for political power, by any necessary means, has been everything that matters.
On November 4, California voters will have the opportunity to resist this ridiculous exercise by voting a resounding “no” in proposition 50.
Jim Redhead, San Diego
