Creating fair voting districts isn’t rocket science

In suggesting that the issue of gerrymandering is an “impenetrable political thicket,” too complicated for the legal minds on the U.S. Supreme Court to address, columnist George F. Will (“Tangling with Redistricting,” Oct. 2) insults the court and his readers, while arguing to maintain a system that effectively disenfranchises Republican and Democratic voters who happen to live in districts deemed to be “assigned” to the opposite party.

In redistricting, far too much attention is paid to the membership of redistricting committees or to testing the results for “balance,” rather than defining the process for creating districts. This isn’t rocket science; it is geometry. It is easily done with the same computer technology used forgerrymandering.

Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts can be drawn in any number of ways without regard to politics or demographics. One easy way is to first divide the state vertically in thirds, along existing boundaries of municipalities, wards or precincts (to avoid them being split unacceptably between two districts) such that there are an equal number of people in each third. Second, divide each of those three columns into six horizontal slices such that the resulting rough rectangles have equal numbers of people. Then you’re done. You’ve created 18 districts with equal populations without trying to favor one party over the other.

While I sympathize with those who want to create minority-majority districts, special treatment for certain groups is a slippery slope to the current mayhem. Worse, such districts insulate legislators in other districts from having to address minorities’ concerns. RICHARD MATTHEWS

Mt. Lebanon

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on being quoted by all the news agencies. I believe in newspapers, and this story exemplifies why we need multiple news sources. SARAH YOURD Mt. Lebanon

We are so saddened by the horrific events of Oct. 1 in Las Vegas. The gates of hell have been fully opened by this evil act, which is pure hatred. Hatred is one of the most contagious emotions to enter our minds, fester, then enter our hearts. Just one single person can affect a multitude of people by his sheer spoken vitriol.

Our gates of hell were opened on April 4, 2009. That is when our son, Officer Paul J. Sciullo II, and fellow Pittsburgh police officers Eric Kelly and Stephen Mayhle were massacred by this same hatred. As we watch, we know what these families are going through, and we are praying for all of them.

Please, when hatred comes to your hearts, then to your lips, think of these families, then weigh your words. Please pray for all who are suffering the loss of their loved ones, for those who have been inflicted with emotional and bodily harm, for those who will have to change the way they lived their precious moments of life, the life that once was theirs.

Our love, our prayers, our hope and the grace of God are what is needed to confront this evil. God give them the strength they will need to endure. God help all of us.

Forever in our hearts they will be. MAX and SUE SCIULLO

Bloomfield

The U.S. Constitution and the country’s flag and anthem celebrate democracy, freedom and equality. When citizens “take the knee” at public events involving national symbols, they are protesting failure of citizens and officials to live up to these values. They are not disrespecting the symbols of those values; they are supporting them — and all those, soldiers and civilians alike, who fought for them. Those who complain about taking the knee and similar acts are possibly denigrating or misunderstanding those values, or prioritizing sports over civic responsibilities.

Today, these protests are especially necessary. Twisted and abused election procedures have propelled an ideology (that neither won by a majority nor respects our democratic values) into our highest public office. Its name, Trumpism, stands for bigotry, authoritarianism and thuggery in its rhetoric, official policies and political appointments. It approximates too closely what my parents and the rest of the Greatest Generation fought against in World War II.

We need to come together as a democratic people and accomplish two goals: the rejection of Trumpism and the achievement of greater social and economic equality. We should all “take the knee” for that. FRED EVANS

Point Breeze