… Right now, the most prosperous parts of the United States constitute a small fraction of the country, while large segments experience limited prosperity. In a political system based on geographic representation, the mismatch between prosperity and representation is a recipe for disaster.
The sections of the nation experiencing poor economic growth may end up controlling the bulk of the U.S. Congress and many of the state legislatures. Couple that stagnation with fears about the changing world and exposure to people who come from different backgrounds, and those areas very well could elect leaders similar to Trump who blame immigrants, minorities and foreigners for their dismal plight and who block policy actions needed to safeguard the social safety net. CONT.
Darrell M. West (Brookings Institution), NBC News