Redistricting will never be fair

The Texas Tribune reports on the Texas Legislature's special session for redistricting. Because of pending lawsuits, the state and federal districts will probably have to be redrawn, maybe multiple times.

Unfortunately, a lot of people think there's such a thing as "fair" redistricting. There isn't. District lines will always be arranged to enhance the power of the majority.

It would probably be better if computers could just draw compact districts without regard to factors like race or party, but even that doesn't guarantee "fairness." No matter how the districts are drawn, a lot of people will be unhappy with them.

We could get rid of districts and have a legislature based on proportional representation. That would get rid of redistricting, although it could introduce other problems.

The best thing would be to do what Libertarians have always called for: greatly reduce the size, scope, and power of government. Then politicians and special interests wouldn't worry so much about the districts, and the district lines wouldn't matter so much.