ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Gerrymandering is named for Elbridge Gerry, one of the three who in 1787 refused to sign the Constitution’s first draft (“Eric Holder and Democrats’ gerrymandering,” Web, July 21). As it happened, the Bill of Rights was hastily added, answering the three men’s main objection. Not long after, Gerry, now governor of Massachusetts, redrew a congressional district. The press described its reptilian shape as Gerry’s salamander.
The practice has gone on long enough. It’s time to end it — and the solution is easy. Patching postal zones together with a computer, we could organize a state into its allotted number of congressional districts. Their populations would be as nearly equal as possible, and their perimeters as short as possible.
Politically, however, this would be difficult. To do it nationally would require a constitutional amendment. No ordinary politician with partisan power in mind is likely to support it — unless, that is, he or she thinks campaigning for it would attract votes.
That presupposes a politician who is anything but ordinary. That is precisely what we need right now. Virginia has had extraordinary political leaders in the past, and we have a statewide election coming up this November. Could it be our moment to elect yet another outstanding leader?
JOHN S. MASON JR.
Alexandria, Va.
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