I would add to what Wolf Eagle says by noting that certain advances in the application of mathematical theory (as documented in a recent Wired magazine) have aided in successful challenges to the extreme and (in my opinion) immoral gerrymandering that pollutes the US House. Such gerrymandering is bad for Republicans, Democrats and us curmudgeonly Independents. It is my hope that such successes continue. Time to disrupt the conditions where those in power manipulate the electorate to perpetuate such power.