Leaving the redrawing of congressional districts in the hands of partisan legislatures is an old problem that this country has not yet outgrown.

The result has been several centuries of unfairness and turmoil as politicians seek advantage over one another and long-term job security for themselves.

For years, the system was used to keep blacks and ethnic minorities from gaining representation. Today, it completely fails to represent the largest segment of voters — independents — who are only allowed a token place at the table.

Nationally, it now results in increasingly “safe” seats for congressional incumbents as districts are neatly carved to produce predictable results for the Republican and Democratic parties.

Recently, both political parties engaged in a futile effort to reach a compromise on the shape of Maine’s two congressional districts.

In 1961, a Republican Legislature gave us the general division we have now, a rough north/south divide that divvies up Kennebec County to mathematically even things out.

Now unhappy with the way that line has resulted in Democratic congressional victories, Republicans are seeking to give the line an east/west twist, moving the more-Democratic-than-not Lewiston-Auburn into the 1st Congressional District.

This plan would result in more than 300,000 voters changing congressional districts.

Their goal would be to move as many Democrats as possible out of the 2nd District, perhaps allowing for the defeat of U.S. Rep Mike Michaud, a Democrat.

The side effect would be to give U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree an even safer seat than she already has, a sacrifice Republicans are apparently willing to make to possibly pick up one more Electoral College vote going into the 2012 presidential election.

While we may never see it, we would urge voters to demand just the opposite — new congressional districts that make the two districts as “unsafe” as possible.

That would mean actually trying to balance the number of Democrats and Republicans, as well as voters, between the two districts.

That would have a variety of positive benefits.

Every election might be a real race, drawing qualified opponents, voter interest and outside money.

What’s more, neither Republicans nor Democrats could appeal only to their base. They would be forced to attract moderates and independents to win elections.

It would also keep any politician from becoming too comfortable in office. Candidates would be forced to appeal to the widest possible cross section of voters throughout their two-year terms in office.

Large states across the country have been moving toward more and more polarized congressional districts over the past two decades.

Some political scientists say the result has been increasing bitterness and partisanship, which has for all practical purposes paralyzed Congress.

Until recently, Maine has managed to avoid the worst of the political infighting. We have a Legislature that has, for the past two sessions, produced a budget approved by Republicans and Democrats, even in tough times.

We have an evenly divided congressional delegation, two Republican senators and two Democratic U.S. House members.

Meanwhile, most of the state’s voters seem to like it that way, regularly returning moderate lawmakers to Washington.

Maine should now use every tool at hand, including redistricting, to avoid giving either party a leg up on Election Day.

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The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and editorial board.