Seen in the light of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act asymmetrically binding Republicans, what you’re calling an “unprovoked bout of gerrymandering” might be better understood as an attempt to reduce the unfair advantage Democrats have had nationally for decades.
The problem with gerrymandering is that it makes elections less representative. It seems to me that (section 2 of) the Voting Rights Act makes elections more representative, so that’s good. It seems reasonable to be mad at republicans when they implement measures that make elections less representative that benefit them, but not when you want elections to stay less fair.
Seen in the light of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act asymmetrically binding Republicans, what you’re calling an “unprovoked bout of gerrymandering” might be better understood as an attempt to reduce the unfair advantage Democrats have had nationally for decades.
The problem with gerrymandering is that it makes elections less representative. It seems to me that (section 2 of) the Voting Rights Act makes elections more representative, so that’s good. It seems reasonable to be mad at republicans when they implement measures that make elections less representative that benefit them, but not when you want elections to stay less fair.