http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallp...urt-decision-lead-to-death-of-the-gerrymander Hopefully this is a step in the right direction to get the election process back in the hands of the people. For those who don't know what Gerrymandering is, see the below link. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-r-stone/why-did-the-republicans-w_b_2110673.html
For better or worse, you may end up losing a lot of black and/or hispanic congressmen. That was one of the indirect offsets/compromises for strategically protecting and enhancing a particular party.
I think if the lines are drawn intelligently and fairly, "common interests" shaping would yield more effective representation than racial enclaves. If you isolate racial interests into minority districts, they have no voting power within the larger system. Yes they can elect a representative but he can't get favorable legislation passed. Spreading the votes into more reasonable districts might mean more candidates will have to address minority issues just to get elected. Creating districts of shared economic interest seems to make more sense.
It would still be possible to continue with VRA-style majority-minority districts as the base with the shortest splitline algorithm creating the rest of the districts... http://rangevoting.org/GerryExamples.html <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kUS9uvYyn3A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
State democratic parties need to get these referendums on EVERY POSSIBLE BALLOT in 2016. They're easy winners in any high-turnout election.
In many cases, that "luck of the draw" would be better than the extremely partisan redistricting that happens all too often.
Unfortunately referendums can be pretty hard to initiate in some states. Western states typically have it the easiest when it comes to getting this stuff on the ballot. Along with non-partisan redistricting, you might as well throw on no fault absentee voting, same day voter registration, and extended early voting.
Even a non-binding referendum would probably put a ton of pressure on elected officials. Though you're right I don't think Texas governing cabal of Captains Crazypants Republicans would be too distracted by Jade Helm to defeat such an initiative.