The following is an excerpt from a transcript of the public television program, America Talks. This week's guest is Senator Manley Rover. Host: Senator, there are accusations floating around that your redistricting efforts are a lot like gerrymandering.

Senator: Not at all, sir! Let me go on record as stating as strongly as possible that the redistricting I am advocating will result in a fair and serendipitous division of votes for all parties. The lines will be drawn based on demographics of gender, age, and education,—not political affiliation.

Host: I question the use of demographics, at all, Senator...

Allusion

In 1812, the Massachusetts state legislature changed the districts in the state so as to give one party an advantage in state senatorial elections. One of the new districts seemed to resemble the torso of a salamander. A political cartoonist added appendages and a newspaper editor gave it the name "Gerrymander," after Elbridge Gerry who was governor of the state at that time, and a member of the party that benefited from the changes.

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