One of the most refreshing aspects of the discussion going on in the Legislature this week about redistricting reform is the straight talk coming from those who had a hand in drawing the existing political district lines in 2001.

Nobody is pretending that the current system was anything but a status-quo protection plan.

"My overriding concern was that Republicans would not lose one congressional seat," said Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside. "Perhaps that wasn't the best reason to make a decision."

Morrow now says he supports the creation of an independent commission to draw the next set of lines in 2011. "You can't expect people to put aside their own personal or political interests. It's against human nature. It's like asking a hog to butcher itself: It's not going to happen."