Politicians should not choose their voters
I think the May 28 article on redistricting (“New lines, old goals: power for politicians”), missed one of the most important consequences of gerrymandering over the past several decades. While certainly not the only factor, I believe this has been a significant factor leading to the extreme partisanship in Congress today.
More and more districts across the country have been sculpted to be “safe” for one party or the other. This reduces incentives to incumbents to reach across the aisle because any challenge to their job is more likely to come from the extreme elements of their own party than from the other. As voting districts are made more extreme, it takes a more extreme politician to get re-elected.
Several midwestern states have divided their states into neat rectangles of roughly equal populations without concern over demographics. It would be a noble objective to get to the day when the people get to choose who represents them rather than the politicians getting to decide who they represent.
DANIEL MEEHAN, PEACHTREE CORNERS
Tax commissioners don’t need exorbitant fees
For years, public officials have discussed the situation whereby an exorbitant proportion of fees associated with tax collection goes into the pockets of tax commissioners – public employees (“Tax collector fees questioned,” News, May 30). But discussion is about as far as it gets, with little being done to rectify the situation. Apparently those seeking the job of tax commissioner are more proficient at negotiations than the parties responsible for county good. While we can’t change the past, we certainly can invoke rules to remedy this blatantly ridiculous way to run a tax office. If a tax commissioner is unhappy with the six-figure pay for the position without what amounts to a tacit kickback, he should look elsewhere for employment!
MICHAEL L. SHAW, STONE MOUNTAIN
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