Given all the brouhaha that exists over redistricting, I thought I would give one simple idea that would free our nation and states from tyranny. 
Turn the job over to a computer. Yes, take the blood and politics out of it, and let computers make fair districts.
How do we do that? Simple. You need a computerized map of the political entity being divided, and the locations of the voters. You give the computer a simple instruction: minimize the length of the internal boundary lines within the political entity, subject to the districts being roughly the same population.
No one can argue that such a method is not fair. It produces compact, convex districts that look fair, and no one needs to say a word — just accept the output of the computer.
What would be the benefit? Districts would be a lot less polar, and seats would not be as safe for incumbents. And when the new census comes out — boom! Many politicians would find themselves fighting for their lives in new districts that don’t fit them.
This could herald the return of the citizen-lawmaker, because it would be difficult to maintain a seat for a long time. Perhaps with some help, such as permanently disallowing politicians from being lobbyists, it could make a genuine change in the way our government works.
PS — In my life, I have been approached by others to use my math skills to gerrymander a large state in the US. I refused (at age 29), though I knew how it could be done.
Hi David,
That’s such a great idea! Of course, because it’s such a great idea it will never see the light of day, unfortunately. No politician/political party would ever vote for this: it would require putting Country and democratic process above narrow party- and self-interest. Great idea, though!
Steve
I think that this is a good idea for improving the current system, but I still think that the main problem with our system is cultural.
People broadly support large government programs and services but don’t want to pay for them with tax revenues. Even if you make a fair districting system, the new winners will differ very little from the losers. They will still be incapable of tackling the big issues.
My guess is, that state might be Texas.
Not Texas. I had a friend high up in one of the parties that didn’t want me to move, and so he proposed the idea to me for the state we lived in at the time.
Interesting. Sounds somewhat like Asimov’s short story, “Franchise” (or “The Voter”), based on the the socio-economic computations of Multivac.
Heh…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franchise_(short_story)
Review of “Franchise”:
http://www.helium.com/items/1648108-franchise-by-asimov
Don
I read that when I was 12-14 or so. Funny story. But my computer program doesn’t take away freedom from voters, only politicians and their lapdogs.