Well the sad thing is that almost all of us live in Congressional districts that are very specifically drawn to favor DEMs or REPs. California's districts were drawn in 2001 to protect all incumbants. In Texas the only seat that is really contested is Tom Delay's..... which means that the primary way to get rid of an incumbant is via scandal.... not through the democratic process.

Gerrymandering has become an extremely powerful tool honed over the past forty years.... I actually watched it with interest here in Texas in 2001. I think that since the 1970s this more than anything has made the House of Representatives more polarized and prone to corruption.

States that use appointed boards draw the Congressional lines have competitive races every two years... Washington and Iowa, for example. Today it takes one of those "every 20 year elections" for change otherwise.

Unfortunately California last time voted down such a plan in a failed ballot initiative. It would be nice if Texas created such a board, but typically the reigning party in power cannot see past the extreme short term. (Texas doesn't have ballot initiatives ... fortunately.... the legislature has to approve an amendment by 2/3s, and put it to the voters)

Steve