Reading guide: two good stories

First up today we have this piece in the Washington Post, which makes the important point that Congressional redistricting since the 2000 census has basically frozen Congress in it's current state. In other words, barring big changes in the political landscape, we're no longer living in a real democracy, as far as the legislative branch of the federal government is concerned. That's a harsh truth, but recognizing that our election system is in crisis is better than putting our heads in the sand and pretending it isn't.

Speaking of big changes in the political landscape, Bruce Reed (doesn't that sound like a superhero's alter ego name?) at Slate draws a parallel between Britain's struggling Conservative party and...oddly...both of America's current political parties. Reed asserts that "In a sense, Republicans and Democrats alike are always on the brink of elimination". Therefore, he argues, it would behoove either or both party to undertake the kind of "modernization" that David Cameron is pushing for in the Conservative party. Cameron says:

"Some say 'hit Labour harder, and the electorate will come to their senses.' I say that's rubbish. People know that Labour have failed. They want to know how we will succeed. … Some say that we should move to the right. I say that will turn us into a fringe party, never able to challenge for government again."

Good advice for Democrats in America. Medium-bad advice for Republicans. Republicans' philosophy is over-defined, not under-defined; they have too many inherent contradictions. Democrats, however, would be wise to take a page from David Cameron's book.