In this Opinion Journal piece on Gov. Schwarzenegger, Former Delaware Gov. Du Pont writes: “Finally comes the most politically explosive Schwarzenegger proposal–mandating the drawing of legislative district lines by retired judges. There is no question that when legislators of both parties work together to draw district lines there is political collusion to safeguard their own seats. As California economist Art Laffer (a supporter of the proposition) pointed out, among the 80 state Assembly seats, 20 Senate seats and 53 U.S. House seats up for election in 2004, ‘not one seat of the 153 changed party affiliation.’ The Declaration of Purpose of the proposition has it right: ‘Partisan gerrymandering, uncompetitive districts, [and] ideological polarization’ govern the redistricting process. No doubt three bipartisan, retired judges selected by lot from pool will do better than partisan, self-interested pols. But judges are no less human than the rest of us and no less inclined to follow their political instincts–Roe v. Wade being one example and the decision upholding McCain-Feingold’s limitations on free speech another–so sooner or later the retired California judges will make ideological decisions in drawing district boundaries. Nevertheless this is a visionary solution to a political problem that will not be solved in any other way.”