Chapter 8 - Place Matters, thoughts on 21st century metropolitics

After reading the litany of ideas they have on how to resolve the urban sprawl issue through political coalitions, it brings to mind the current presidential race and how a lot of their concerns seem to be moot with the direction the house, senate and white house will all end up after November 4th. It appears that an economic crisis could prove the deciding factor in granting the Democratic party a majority throughout government, regardless of where the district lines were drawn (in the book's opinion, in Republican favor).

The question I raise to this is will Obama govern as Clinton did? Or with this new super majority will he be able to do more (or less depending on who you are) to bring about urban change? We learned that Clinton governed with a suburban/urban coalition but found he was unable or unwilling to make considerable changes within urban centers. Obama will have an opportunity Clinton did not, one that allows him to propose solutions to the urban issues under his presidency with a democratic majority to carry them out.

I find their defense of the districts of Illinois and Texas as examples to be rather naive. How they continued to say that this representative would see the better way or the brighter light by adopting pro urban policy plans within their districts. Obviously they don't know politicians very well. The politician would be more concerned with keeping a base that would re-elect him or her. Many of these proposals could upset that balance of power within their own districts. While it is the right way, it is politically unfeasible and therein lies one of the darker sides of our political spectrum.

I would think a redistricting approach that cut across geographic boundaries would allow for solutions to play out - this idea was posited in the chapter. If for instance a congressperson represented portions of Birmingham proper but their district included sections of Mountain Brook and Hoover, they would be more inclined to assist the voting population within the city limits in order to maintain their political office. Of course that district would have to have a large chunk within Birmingham and the citizens would have to participate more fully. However, as the book mentioned, there is little incentive at this time for inner city residents to participate in the process as the outcome is basically decided.