Progressive Idea of the Week: Independent Legislative Districting Commissions

Both political parties are guilty of gerrymandering: the process where legislative districts are drawn in such remarkable ways so one political party is favored over the other. As the book cited in this weeks book of the week insert attests, the Republican Party may have taken this to new heights following the 2010 census to the point where some courts have thrown out warped attempts in several states like Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

The answer to this is similar to what the country has done in the past when deciding which military bases to close when there are defense cuts: Independent Commissions made up of the same number of each major political party. Now some states, like Arizona and California, already have those. This should be made universal for all 50 states so the state legislatures, controlled by either party can not skew districts towards unfair advantages.

This is a fair idea and should be implemented.