Long shadow map of United States of America and its flag with the text Game Over

Mike Collier is the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas and former partner at one of the world’s largest accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Collier has some strong feelings about big data’s impact on government’s ability to function. “There’s an intersection between big data and the death of democracy that our founders could never have guessed,” says Collier. “That big data and computing horsepower could ruin democracy, but that’s precisely what’s happening.” Collier is referring to gerrymanderingthe mapping of political districts that favor one party over another. Specifically, Collier is referring to a much-rebuked byproduct of gerrymandering–extremism.

Collier’s views were influenced by investment banker Erskine Bowles who served as White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton. Bowles was Democratic co-chair alongside Republican senator Alan Simpson of President Barack Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

At a PwC sponsored event in Houston in late 2013, Bowles talked about how Obama couldn’t act on the bipartisan commission’s findings because there was just too much divisiveness in Washington. Bowles said there was far more divisiveness these days than just over a decade earlier under the Clinton administration. Bowles could not be reached for comment for this article.

After the meeting, Collier chased him down to ask him what he thought was causing this divisiveness. Bowles explained that right around 2004–2006, we’d accumulated enough big data to draw congressional districts with such brutal precision and bizarre boundaries it birthed a political climate that disenfranchises moderates and rewards government gridlock.

Every congressional district now, because it’s big data-driven, is reliably R or reliably D,” says former Republican, Collier. “What that means is, if you want to keep your job in your district–both parties do it–you never ever, ever have to worry about the other party. You’re never going to lose your job unless somebody in your own party attacks you. They’re going to attack you from the left if you’re a Democrat or from the right if you’re Republican.”

The safest play, if you’re a politician, is to be a polarizing extremist within your own party. Otherwise, when you go to Washington and compromise and negotiate deals to the tune of ‘I’ll vote for your bill if you vote for my bill,’ back home you’re seen as a traitor to your party. “When you come home, somebody runs against you because you’re not sufficiently, reliably Democrat or sufficiently, reliably Republican,” says Collier.

The outcome of gerrymandering is based on a principle in social psychology called group polarization. Groups tend to make decisions that are more extreme than the views of any one member of the group. With districts gerrymandered to contain members of similar ideologies, the most extreme ideologies carry the group, and carry the most influence. Group polarization is magnified in a political context by individuals within the group with more extreme views who are more likely to get out to vote.

Groups with similar ideologies are also susceptible to another dysfunctional group dynamic called groupthink where opinions from outside groups and even alternative viewpoints within a group are suppressed, resulting in less rationally assessed but more dogmatic beliefs. Groupthink can also cause one group to act in dehumanizing ways toward another group.

“I think gerrymandering is the root cause of all this divisiveness,” says Collier. “It comes back to big data. Simple as that.”

It’s probably not that simple. CNN analyst Harry Enten argues in The Guardian that gerrymandering House districts can’t have the effect we think it’s having because polarization is happening at state levels. But this observation overlooks the fact that gerrymandering has been going on since 1812 with polarization in the House ramping up in the 1980’s on the tail of the digital revolution. While correlation is not causation, it’s not implausible that gerrymandered extremism has the potential, over time and with new technologies, to contribute to changes seen in the demographics and ideologies of whole states. Also, members of a polarized House are increasingly elected to the Senate, which likely contributes to polarization at the state level.

The extent to which gerrymandering plays a role in how we sort ourselves geographically, in the rise of a polarized citizenry and elected officials, needs more research. There’s pretty much nothing about human belief and behavior that’s as straightforward as it appears. The entire field of behavior economics emerged out of a confounding disparity between what we think, what we say we think, and what we actually do. The human decision-making process is as challenging to research and produce accurate, replicable results as testing particles that appear and disappear out of existence.

But blaming big data for ruining democracy brings to mind the saying ‘statistics don’t lie, but people lie with statistics.’ Big data is information. Information is power. It’s up to us how we interpret data and use that power.

Collier is correct that polarization is a major impediment to a functioning democracy. Now that we’re in the trenches of feverish polarization, redrawing lines won’t immediately recalibrate the polarized views of constituents. But we have to start figuring this out. Independent redistricting commissions with ideas about how to fix the complicated problem of gerrymandering, are part of the platform Collier is campaigning on.

If you have a congressional district that has both Democrats and Republicans, then everybody’s mad at their congressman or congresswoman all the time. That’s terrific,” says Collier. “Because that person has to keep the fight local. Bring people together. Find the balancing point of view. It’s hard work–very hard work–and the only ones that survive are the real statesmen.”

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Long shadow map of United States of America and its flag with the text Video game Over

Mike Collier is the Democratic prospect for Lieutenant Guv of Texas and previous partner at one of the world’s biggest accounting companies, PricewaterhouseCoopers( PwC). Collier has some strong sensations about huge information’s influence on federal government’s capability to work.” There’s a crossway in between huge information and the death of democracy that our creators might never ever have actually thought, “states Collier.” That huge information and calculating horse power might destroy democracy, however that’s exactly what’s occurring.” Collier is describing gerrymandering the mapping of political districts that prefer one celebration over another. Particularly,(********************** )Collier is describing a much-rebuked by-product of gerrymandering– extremism.(*********************** )

Collier’s views

were affected by financial investment lender Erskine Bowles who functioned as White Home Chief of Personnel under President Costs Clinton. Bowles was Democratic co-chair together with Republican senator Alan Simpson of President Barack Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Obligation and Reform.(***************** )

(************* )At a PwC sponsored occasion in Houston in late2013, Bowles discussed how Obama could not act upon the bipartisan commission’s findings since there was simply excessive divisiveness in Washington. Bowles stated there was even more divisiveness nowadays than simply over a years previously under the Clinton administration. Bowles might not be grabbed remark for this post.(***************** )

(************ )(************* )After the conference, Collier chased him down to ask him what he believed was

triggering this divisiveness. Bowles described that ideal around 2004–2006, we ‘d collected enough huge information to draw congressional districts with such harsh accuracy and unusual limits it birthed a political environment that disenfranchises moderates and benefits federal government gridlock.

Every congressional district now, since it’s huge data-driven, is dependably R or dependably D,” states previous

Republican politician, Collier.” What that indicates is, if you wish to
keep your task in your district– both celebrations do it– you never ever, ever need to stress over the other celebration. You’re never ever going to lose your task unless someone in your own celebration attacks you. They’re going to assault you from the left if you’re a Democrat or from the right if you’re Republican.”

(************************* )(************************** )

(************ )(************** )(*************************** )The most safe play, if you’re a political leader, is to be a polarizing extremist within your own celebration.

Otherwise, when you go to Washington and compromise and work out offers to the tune of’ I’ll elect your costs if you elect my costs,’ back house you’re viewed as a traitor to your celebration.” When you get home, someone runs versus you since you’re not adequately, dependably Democrat or adequately, dependably Republican,” states Collier.(********** )

The result of gerrymandering is based upon a concept in social psychology called group polarization.

Groups tend to make choices that are more severe than the views of any one member of the group. With districts gerrymandered to include members of comparable ideologies, the most severe ideologies bring the group, and bring the most affect. Group polarization is amplified in a political context by people within the group with more severe views who are most likely to go out to vote.(***************** )

(******************* )Groups with comparable ideologies are likewise prone to another inefficient group vibrant called groupthink where viewpoints from outdoors groups and even alternative perspectives within a group are reduced, leading to less logically examined however more dogmatic beliefs. Groupthink can likewise trigger one group to act in dehumanizing methods towards another group.(***************** )

” I believe gerrymandering is the origin of all this divisiveness,” states Collier. “It returns to huge information. Easy as that.” (********** )

(*************

) It’s most likely not that easy. CNN expert Harry Enten argues in (***************** )(******************************* )(******************************** )The Guardian(************* )that gerrymandering Home districts can’t have the result we believe it’s having since polarization is occurring at state levels. However this observation neglects the reality that gerrymandering has actually been going on because1812 with polarization in your home increase(***************** ) in the1980’s on the tail of the digital transformation. While connection is not causation, it’s not implausible that gerrymandered extremism has the capacity, gradually and with brand-new innovations, to add to modifications seen in the demographics and ideologies of entire states. Likewise, members of a polarized Home are significantly chosen to the Senate (****************** ), which likely adds to polarization at the state level.(***************** )

The degree to which gerrymandering contributes in how we arrange ourselves geographically, in the increase of a polarized citizenry and chosen authorities, requires more research study. There’s basically absolutely nothing about human belief and habits that’s as uncomplicated as it appears.

The whole field of habits economics emerged out of a confounding variation in between what we believe, what we state we believe, and what we really do. The human decision-making procedure is as tough to research study and produce precise, replicable outcomes as screening particles that appear and vanish out of presence.

However blaming huge information for destroying democracy evokes the stating’ stats do not lie, however individuals lie with stats.’ Huge information is details. Details is power. It depends on us how we analyze information and utilize that power.(***************** )

Collier is right that polarization is a significant obstacle to a working democracy. Now that we remain in the trenches of feverish polarization, redrawing lines will not right away recalibrate the polarized views of constituents. However we need to begin figuring this out. Independent redistricting commissions with concepts

about how to repair the complex issue of gerrymandering(***************** )(************* ), belong to the platform Collier is marketing on.(***************** )(********** )(************************ )

If you have a congressional district that has both Democrats and Republicans, then everyone seethes at their congressman or congresswoman all the time. That’s great,” states Collier.” Since that individual needs to keep the battle regional. Bring individuals together. Discover the balancing perspective. It’s effort– extremely effort– and the only
ones that endure are the genuine statesmen.”

(************ )

” readability =”93 601458671″ >

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.

Long shadow map of United States of America and its flag with the text Video game Over (********** ). (***** ).

Mike Collier is the Democratic prospect for Lieutenant Guv of Texas and previous partner at one of the world’s biggest accounting companies, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Collier has some strong sensations about huge information’s influence on federal government’s capability to work.(**************** )(***************** )” There’s a crossway in between huge information and the death of democracy that our creators might never ever have actually thought,” states Collier. “That huge information and calculating horse power might destroy democracy, however that’s exactly what’s occurring.” Collier is describing gerrymandering the mapping of political districts that prefer one celebration over another.
Particularly, Collier is describing a much-rebuked by-product of gerrymandering– extremism.

Collier’s views were affected by financial investment lender Erskine Bowles who functioned as White Home Chief of Personnel under President Costs Clinton. Bowles was Democratic co-chair together with Republican senator Alan Simpson of President Barack Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Obligation and Reform.

At a PwC sponsored occasion in Houston in late 2013, Bowles discussed how Obama could not act upon the bipartisan commission’s findings since there was simply excessive divisiveness in Washington. Bowles stated there was even more divisiveness nowadays than simply over a years previously under the Clinton administration. Bowles might not be grabbed remark for this post.

After the conference, Collier chased him down to ask him what he believed was triggering this divisiveness. Bowles described that ideal around 2004– 2006, we ‘d collected enough huge information to draw congressional districts with such harsh accuracy and unusual limits it birthed a political environment that disenfranchises moderates and benefits federal government gridlock.

.

Every congressional district now, since it’s huge data-driven, is dependably R or dependably D,” states previous Republican politician, Collier. “What that indicates is, if you wish to keep your task in your district– both celebrations do it– you never ever, ever need to stress over the other celebration. You’re never ever going to lose your task unless someone in your own celebration attacks you. They’re going to assault you from the left if you’re a Democrat or from the right if you’re Republican.”

.

The most safe play, if you’re a political leader, is to be a polarizing extremist within your own celebration. Otherwise, when you go to Washington and compromise and work out offers to the tune of ‘I’ll elect your costs if you elect my costs,’ back house you’re viewed as a traitor to your celebration. “When you get home, someone runs versus you since you’re not adequately, dependably Democrat or adequately, dependably Republican,” states Collier.

The result of gerrymandering is based upon a concept in social psychology called group polarization. Groups tend to make choices that are more severe than the views of any one member of the group. With districts gerrymandered to include members of comparable ideologies, the most severe ideologies bring the group, and bring the most affect. Group polarization is amplified in a political context by people within the group with more severe views who are most likely to go out to vote.

Groups with comparable ideologies are likewise prone to another inefficient group vibrant called groupthink where viewpoints from outdoors groups and even alternative perspectives within a group are reduced, leading to less logically examined however more dogmatic beliefs. Groupthink can likewise trigger one group to act in dehumanizing methods towards another group.

“I believe gerrymandering is the origin of all this divisiveness,” states Collier. “It returns to huge information. Easy as that.”

It’s most likely not that easy. CNN expert Harry Enten argues in The Guardian that gerrymandering Home districts can’t have the result we believe it’s having since polarization is occurring at state levels. However this observation neglects the reality that gerrymandering has actually been going on because 1812 with polarization in your home increase in the 1980’s on the tail of the digital transformation. While connection is not causation, it’s not implausible that gerrymandered extremism has the capacity, gradually and with brand-new innovations, to add to modifications seen in the demographics and ideologies of entire states. Likewise, members of a polarized Home are significantly chosen to the Senate , which likely adds to polarization at the state level.

The degree to which gerrymandering contributes in how we arrange ourselves geographically, in the increase of a polarized citizenry and chosen authorities, requires more research study. There’s basically absolutely nothing about human belief and habits that’s as uncomplicated as it appears. The whole field of habits economics emerged out of a confounding variation in between what we believe, what we state we believe, and what we really do. The human decision-making procedure is as tough to research study and produce precise, replicable outcomes as screening particles that appear and vanish out of presence.

However blaming huge information for destroying democracy evokes the stating ‘stats do not lie, however individuals lie with stats.’ Huge information is details. Details is power. It depends on us how we analyze information and utilize that power.

Collier is right that polarization is a significant obstacle to a working democracy. Now that we remain in the trenches of feverish polarization, redrawing lines will not right away recalibrate the polarized views of constituents. However we need to begin figuring this out. Independent redistricting commissions with concepts about how to repair the complex issue of gerrymandering , belong to the platform Collier is marketing on.

.

If you have a congressional district that has both Democrats and Republicans, then everyone seethes at their congressman or congresswoman all the time. That’s great,” states Collier. “Since that individual needs to keep the battle regional. Bring individuals together. Discover the balancing perspective. It’s effort– extremely effort– and the only ones that endure are the genuine statesmen.”

.

.