Thank you for visiting and engaging in the important discussion surrounding gerrymandering and its impact on our government institutions. Your participation helps foster a healthier political discourse among various political parties, especially as we advocate for redistricting reform.

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

I write about America's institutions of government and their relationship to contemporary politics. Find my twitter feed at @dennisrbullock1.

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

I write about America's institutions of government and their relationship to contemporary politics. Find my twitter feed at @dennisrbullock1.

Published Works

A speaker addressing an attentive audience in a room with large arched windows.

America's Parliamentary Mindset Mar. 26, 2020 realclearpolicy

A vast swath of the electorate, along with many individuals serving in the government itself, have misguidedly adopted a parliamentary perspective on America’s system. They perceive political parties not just as the primary actors within the governmental structure, but as the government itself. Consequently, too many people across the political spectrum view America’s constitutional structure as a framework for gerrymandering and redistricting reform, meant to control and leverage for one party’s political ends, rather than seeing it as a set of government institutions designed for political parties to operate within and engage in conflict with one another. This misinterpretation significantly impacts our political discourse.

People celebrating success with strategy plans and charts on a wall.

The False Premise of Redistricting Reform Aug. 1, 2019 Patriot NOT Partisan

America’s political parties have permeated government institutions for so long that Americans have come to accept as conventional wisdom that redistricting is a responsibility of these political parties – with gerrymandering viewed as a corrupted version of that responsibility. Although this has been a practical reality for multiple generations, this assumption is a misconception; it reflects how deeply the Democratic and Republican parties have influenced government. Today, many Americans make little distinction between the political parties themselves and the governmental institutions they operate within. The persistence of this conventional wisdom serves as a false premise in political discourse, especially when discussing essential issues such as redistricting reform.

Protesters hold signs demanding an end to gerrymandering in front of a government building.

Gerrymandering in an Age of Legislative Obstinacy Mar. 20, 2019 realclearpolicy

I argue that gerrymandering, while subtly embraced by many within both political parties due to its preservation of electoral stability, actually intensifies tensions between factions and undermines the vital functions of government institutions like Congress, especially when combined with prolonged legislative gridlock. Leaders from each party are so preoccupied with immediate electoral success that they overlook the detrimental impact of gerrymandering. Increasingly, candidates who advocate for the most extreme interpretations of party doctrine and reject compromise—despite a legislature designed to foster it—are being elected by frustrated constituents who wield disproportionate influence because their districts are artificially constructed through redistricting reform.

A woman in a blue blazer speaking with a hand gesture.

The Role of Political Parties in Preventing Congress from Functioning Feb. 1, 2019 realclearpolicy

If there is one aspect on which people across all political parties agree, it is that government institutions like Congress do not function as intended. Paradoxically, many individuals today adopt a hardline stance that views political compromise as akin to capitulation, believing that only the opposing party should engage in it. This mindset influences everything from the attitudes of congressional leaders toward the institution of Congress to the dynamics within each party's caucus and their respective constituencies. The Framers intentionally designed a complex system based on the idea that legislators would strive for political progress on various issues, ultimately working together to bridge their differences. Unfortunately, this assumption has largely been undermined in recent decades, in part due to gerrymandering and the actions of party leaders, which have skewed political discourse and hindered meaningful redistricting reform.

Two men in suits examining a large colorful map on the wall.

Why Give Political Parties the Power to Redistrict Mar. 30, 2018 realclearpolicy

Despite numerous potential impediments, redistricting reform has a clear truth on its side: While America’s political parties should always focus on winning elections, they should never engage in gerrymandering to engineer their own constituencies. Neutral redistricting would compel the parties to prioritize the electorate over their own interests, fostering healthier political discourse and strengthening government institutions.

Sunset over the U.S. Capitol with reflections in water.

The Perils of a Non-compromising Congress Nov. 22, 2017 RealClearPolitics

When the nation's elected leaders allow major issues to remain unmanaged and unresolved for so long, many voters' perceptions tend to shift toward extreme positions, becoming entrenched. Moreover, many proponents of such 'pure' views begin to perceive these stances as the political center. As long as political progress is absent, this intensification of divisions will continue to grow and metastasize, often exacerbated by gerrymandering within government institutions. Congress risks fostering public disillusionment with the system itself, as gridlock, though often lamented, has become a means for political parties to prevent the advancement of the other party’s goals on specific issues. When this situation persists, gridlock evolves into institutional dysfunction, which poses a significant danger to healthy political discourse. Additionally, without redistricting reform, the cycle of division is likely to perpetuate.

Laptop displaying a health insurance enrollment website.

The Efficiency Paradox: Republican Orthodoxy and Health Care Reform Sep. 8, 2017 realclearhealth

During the Republicans' "Repeal and Replace" effort to overturn the ACA, I argued that many conservatives focused on the ACA's internal inefficiencies but offered a solution that would actually exacerbate many of its problems. They tended to confuse, or perhaps conflate, the sort of market efficiencies that typically produce exclusive markets with the kind of internal market efficiencies that can improve the functioning of a regulated market. This confusion is reminiscent of the political discourse surrounding gerrymandering and redistricting reform, where political parties often misinterpret the role of government institutions. There is a fundamental difference.

A formal gathering in the US Capitol with attendees raising their hands.

Of Principle and Compromise: A Paradox within America's Political Discourse Dec. 4, 2016 The Hill

In this essay, I argue that the concerted efforts of political parties in Congress to avoid compromise rather than seek it, particularly in the context of gerrymandering and redistricting reform, have fostered a growing belief within the electorate. This belief suggests that only purely partisan solutions to ongoing problems are acceptable and feasible, ultimately impacting the quality of political discourse within our government institutions.

Portraits of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bernie Sanders during public appearances.

The Irony of Bernie Sanders' Superdelegate Argument Sept. 17, 2016 The Hill

The premise of the article suggests that if the primary election systems of the Republicans and Democrats were reversed, Donald Trump might not have secured the Republican nomination. Bernie Sanders has essentially advocated for a more democratic, bottom-up primary process that reflects the collective will of Democratic voters during these elections. In contrast, the Republicans have a system that aligns with Sanders' desire for reform, yet they lacked a mechanism to curb Donald Trump's momentum during the primary process, despite many within the party wanting to do so. This situation highlights the complexities of political discourse and the role of political parties, as private organizations, in determining their primary nomination processes. Additionally, it raises questions about the need for redistricting reform to address issues like gerrymandering within government institutions.

dennisrbullock.com

dennisrbullock.com

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

Published Works

America's Parliamentary Mindset Mar. 26, 2020 realclearpolicy

The False Premise of Redistricting Reform Aug. 1, 2019 Patriot NOT Partisan

Gerrymandering in an Age of Legislative Obstinacy Mar. 20, 2019 realclearpolicy

The Role of Political Parties in Preventing Congress from Functioning Feb. 1, 2019 realclearpolicy

Why Give Political Parties the Power to Redistrict Mar. 30, 2018 realclearpolicy

The Perils of a Non-compromising Congress Nov. 22, 2017 RealClearPolitics

The Efficiency Paradox: Republican Orthodoxy and Health Care Reform Sep. 8, 2017 realclearhealth

Of Principle and Compromise: A Paradox within America's Political Discourse Dec. 4, 2016 The Hill

The Irony of Bernie Sanders' Superdelegate Argument Sept. 17, 2016 The Hill

Unpublished work -- 2019/2020

Unpublished work -- 2018

dennisrbullock.com

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

Dennis R. Bullock's Published Works

Published Works

America's Parliamentary Mindset Mar. 26, 2020 realclearpolicy

The False Premise of Redistricting Reform Aug. 1, 2019 Patriot NOT Partisan

Gerrymandering in an Age of Legislative Obstinacy Mar. 20, 2019 realclearpolicy

The Role of Political Parties in Preventing Congress from Functioning Feb. 1, 2019 realclearpolicy

Why Give Political Parties the Power to Redistrict Mar. 30, 2018 realclearpolicy

The Perils of a Non-compromising Congress Nov. 22, 2017 RealClearPolitics

The Efficiency Paradox: Republican Orthodoxy and Health Care Reform Sep. 8, 2017 realclearhealth

Of Principle and Compromise: A Paradox within America's Political Discourse Dec. 4, 2016 The Hill

The Irony of Bernie Sanders'​ Superdelegate Argument Sept. 17, 2016 The Hill

Unpublished work -- 2019/2020

Unpublished work -- 2018

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The Irony of Bernie Sanders' Superdelegate Argument Sept. 17, 2016 The Hill