It doesn’t take much in the way of political acumen to understand the danger posed by the current redistricting frenzy. Both parties seem to be seeking the effective disenfranchisement of a significant portion of the population, including Independents.
As a result of the redistricting race to the bottom (and courts’ willingness to strike down redistricting that helps Democrats), the Democrats’ mid-term hopes may hinge on the willingness of Democrats and Independents to turn out to vote for Democrats (and significant numbers of frustrated Republicans staying home). The criminal incompetence and corruption of Trump, his Administration, and Congressional Republicans enhances the likelihood of such a result. If gas continues to cost more than $3 per gallon, and if, as a result, food and consumer-goods prices increase, all the redistricting in the world won’t save the Republicans. They’ll have to take more nefarious steps to disrupt the vote, which, of course, is all too likely a possibility.
But in the longer term, the continued viability of the country depends on a de-escalation of the redistricting frenzy. When you deprive voters of a realistic chance to determine who will represent them, you leave them only three options: to accept permanent subordination, to rise up in acts of civil disobedience (up to and including violent resistance), or to dissolve the Union.