Tropic Sprockets Virtual Cinema Series / Slay The Dragon

By Ian Brockway

“Slay The Dragon,” a new documentary by Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance, focuses on the very detrimental practice of gerrymandering in our national politics. The film is chiefly about the campaign of Katie Fahey, a young woman who started her own drive (without any push) to change the practice of gerrymandering in Michigan, ultimately putting change in the hands of voters.

The film is impactful and heartfelt, highlighting Fahey’s wonderful struggle.

Gerrymandering is named after Elbridge Gerry, the 1812 Governor of Massachusetts who re-drew a district map to make the state partisan. There are two ways gerrymandering can occur. One is called packing where one party is concentrated into a certain district, thereby minimizing its overall impact, and the other is cracking where the one party voters are scattered so as to make them a minority in each of several districts. All this is done by the re-drawing of maps, and both parties, Republican and Democrat are guilty of it.

When Obama was elected in ‘08, Republicans were in danger of losing power for a generation. This crisis brought Chris Janowski into action with Operation REDMAP. The result was the election of Scott Walker in Wisconsin, among other Republican seats even though the candidates frequently did not get the popular vote. This allowed Republicans to push agendas through unchallenged.

Then there is a grassroots backlash of disenfranchised voters who are left out. They initiate groups of dissent. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger contributes to the cause with speeches and public service announcements.

Some of the re-drawn districts on the map are clearly comical in the film. North Carolina looks like a tongue. In another there is a state that resembles Donald Duck, and in yet another there is a squiggly octopus. Comical as it may be, the outcome is no laughing matter. Americans are losing their voice and our democracy is becoming anemic. The phrase one person, one vote without corporate interest, is now threatened

The campaign of Katie Fahey to end gerrymandering in Michigan is riveting, inspiring and a wondrous thing to see. She is a true superhero.

“Slay The Dragon” is an enlightening and compelling film, it entertains as it engages and it is a genuine underdog story. Katie Fahey is a patriot and a catalyst for transformation, one-part Thomas Paine and one-part Wonder Woman.

“Slay the Dragon” is included in the Tropic’s Virtual Cinematheque Series. For tickets to stream the film, go to https://www.tropiccinema.com/event/slay-the-dragon-virtual/

Write Ian at [email protected]

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