Bushmanders and Bullwinkles
Subtitle: How Politicians Manipulate Electronic Maps and Census Data to Win Elections
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Published: April 15, 2001
Place of publication: Chicago, USA
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 216
ISBN-13: 9780226534244
Copyright date: 2001
Subjects: Central government; Elections & referenda; Map making & projections; Population & demography; Political Science; Politics / Current Events; Politics/International Relations; USA; Political Process - Elections; Political Process - General; Political Science / Practical Politics; American; Apportionment (Election law); Cartography; Election districts; Gerrymandering; United States
First sentence: GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, FORTY-first president of the United States shares a unique political legacy with Elbridge Gerry, our fifth vice president, under James Madison.
Description: "For years Mark Monmonier, "a prose stylist of no mean ability or charm" according to the Washington Post, has delighted readers with his insightful understanding of cartography as an art and technology that is both deceptive and revealing. Now he turns his focus to the story of political cartography and the redrawing of congressional districts.

His title Bushmanders and Bullwinkles combines gerrymander with the surname of the president who actively tolerated racial gerrymandering and draws attention to the ridiculously shaped congressional districts that evoke the antlers of the moose who shared the cartoon spotlight with Rocky the Flying Squirrel.".

"Bushmanders and Bullwinkles examines the political tales maps tell when votes and power are at stake. Monmonier shows how redistricting committees carve out favorable election districts for themselves and their allies; how disgruntled politicians use shape to challenge alleged racial gerrymanders; and how geographic information systems can make reapportionment a controversial process with outrageous products.

He also explores the debates over the proper roles of natural boundaries, media maps, census enumeration, and ethnic identity. Monmonier also questions recent successful challenges to contorted election districts. Do the Supreme Court's pronouncements reflect obsolete assessments of distance and shape? How relevant is a district's perimeter? Is a focus on form, not function, little more than a distraction from larger issues like power sharing and election reform?"--BOOK JACKET.
Table of contents: title: Contents
pagenum: vii; title: Preface
pagenum: ix; label: 1
title: Twist and Clout
pagenum: 1; label: 2
title: Gerry’s Legacy
pagenum: 13; label: 3
title: Thin Majorities
pagenum: 31; label: 4
title: Redrawing the Lines
pagenum: 51; label: 5
title: Gauging Compactness
pagenum: 64; label: 6
title: Props and Propaganda
pagenum: 77; label: 7
title: Immunizing Incumbents
pagenum: 90; label: 8
title: What a Friend We Have in GIS
pagenum: 104; label: 9
title: A Tale of Two Censuses
pagenum: 121; label: 10
title: Epilogue
pagenum: 150; title: Notes
pagenum: 157; title: Index
pagenum: 199