The editors at the WaPo have done a good job explaining why gerrymander are bad and how they occur, even in the face of laws designed to stop them. The most important point is that gerrymanders remove politicians from real accountability at the polls. Given the high levels of partisanship, drawing a solid Red or Blue district means that the real challenge to a legislator comes from their flanks, not the center, during a primary. We saw this when the presumptive next Democratic Speaker of the House was taken out by AOC running to his left. Or when the Republican Majority leader Eric Cantor was taken out by a Tea Party loon.
These partisan gerrymanders give us lunatics like Marjorie Traitor Greene, Lauren Boboert the Clown and Madison Dollar General Tom Brady Cawthorn.
The only solution is a national solution. Democrats have - out of necessity - embraced gerrymandering in NY and Illinois to counteract Republican efforts during the last redistricting cycle. The best solution - independent redistricting councils - are mostly in place in Blue states. California could probably net the Democrats a few more seats if they could gerrymander it, but they have a commission.
Hopefully, there will be a day when we can remedy it, but I guarantee it will not happen under GOP rule.
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