@simon_brooke There are really only 3 purposes for micro-constituencies:
1/ reduce travel in sparsely-populated areas
2/ #gerrymander
3/ system malfunction

Ireland has no type 1. Type 2 (#gerrymandered) have been common. But there are a lot of micros created by the intersection of the 5-seat upper limits, and don't-cross county boundaries princile. E.g. in 1997, 5-seat Kildare should have become a 6-seater, but instead was split into two 3-seaters

@petealexharris @ISawTheWood @Indyposterboy

#Texas #Republicans were sick & tired of #Democrat #AlGreen ("Black People Aren't Apes") winning his district ELEVEN TIMES, so they #Gerrymandered him into another district.

His Primary opponent is presently edging him out (still too close to call), but if the #GOP thinks his opponent #ChristianMenefee will be less trouble for their Fuhrer, they might be sorry to have replaced Green with a newer/younger model. 😉