Something's Gotta Change

It's ridiculous:

Every member of the state House faced re-election in 2004. But fewer than one-third faced serious opposition, and nearly half had no opponents at all.

The same is true in the Senate, where 15 of the 22 open seats were virtually uncontested except for an occasional write-in candidate. Volusia County's entire senatorial delegation was re-elected without opposition, with the exception of Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, who assumed an open seat uncontested.

What's more, many of these lawmakers expected that they wouldn't have to fight an opponent. That's because they helped draw the lines that define their districts -- and the lines were designed to discourage challengers.

Redistricting, as practiced by the Florida Legislature, constitutes a cynical, back-biting political process.

" A fairer division".