Drawing political boundaries seems like an easy task. It's not.
The Florida Legislature has done it twice recently, and the courts didn't like either plan. This week the legislators are trying again.
A “base map” has been drawn but it hasn't exactly gotten universal approval. No plan ever will.
If programmed correctly, a computer could draw a map that would cut the peninsula up into 27 congressional districts -- squares and rectangles containing approximately the same number of people.
But it would have no respect for city limits, county lines or any other geographical boundaries.
The idea is to have districts where people with common interests live. As much of Jacksonville as possible, for example.
But when politicians get involved, other priorities take over.
For decades, Democrats controlled the state and they drew districts in which Democrats would get elected. Because there were relatively few Republicans, it wasn't too difficult, even for politicians.
Today, Democrats still outnumber Republicans, but the margin has narrowed and voters who have bailed from both parties also form a large contingent.
Yet, the party in power still seeks to ensure as many advantages as possible for itself, and protection for the incumbent where possible.
Another wrinkle is the rather odd practice of drawing districts intended to ensure that people of a certain skin color get elected.
The Founding Fathers and people such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would be astounded at this peculiar practice.
Parties were unknown to the Founding Fathers although visionaries like James Madison knew they would materialize and present problems. King wanted equality for black Americans, not special privileges.
Liberals are aggrieved because the conservative Legislature did not draw districts that would ensure more liberals (Democrats) are elected. Of course, liberals are ONLY interested in “fairness” and “better government,” not partisan advantage.
But part of their problem is judicial insistence upon “minority access districts.” When you carve those out, it leaves large collections of districts that provide access to majority candidates.
As long as the courts insist upon including that factor, it will be difficult for Republicans or Democrats to draw fair districts.
However, not only is the majority becoming a minority but the whole silly business of skin color will be moot in a relatively short time. What are voters who have one “black” parent and one “white” parent supposed to do -- pick the parent they like best and demand an advantage for that color?
We have a president in that position. He simply chooses to “self identify” as black, and male. (For those rooted in the past, liberal theology today says you can be any sex, color, or nationality you want to be.)
To imagine that all people of a given skin color have the same interests, temperament, aspirations and pursuits is sheer fantasy, but that is the state of political correctness in America and it is why no amount of jiggling district lines will ever suit everybody, whether it is done by computers, politicians or so-called independent commissions.
Lloyd Brown was in the newspaper business nearly 50 years, beginning as a copy boy and retiring as editorial page editor of the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. After retirement he served as a policy analyst for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
