Valuable article on uncompetive nature of House races.

http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/8417.html

The article also has some rare discussion of how the Senate apportionment scheme gives undue influence to the Republican party.

"The lack of competition in House races is a crisis of American democracy. Excluding the Texas gerrymander, last Tuesday three incumbent congressmen (two Republicans, one Democrat) were defeated; three more open seats changed parties (two previously held by a Republican, one by a Democrat). In only 12 other contests (CA 20, CO 4, CT 2, CT 4, IN 2, IN 8, MN 6, MO 3, NY 29, OR 5, SD AL, PA 6) did the winner prevail by less than 10 percentage points. (Two seats in Louisiana remain to be decided.) This outcome occurred at a time when a majority of voters believed that the country was on the wrong track and the country is mired in a war that (regardless of one’s opinions on its merits) clearly has not gone as the administration promised.
To put these totals in perspective: more Senate seats changed party control than House contests."

- posted by jsbennett70 @ 6:33 PM