Much attention has been given recently to the structural advantages the GOP enjoys in our political system as a result of the overrepresentation of rural areas in Washington. It has been estimated that the Democrats have to win the national popular vote by 2-3 percent to have any chance of winning the presidency, and 5-6 percent to win the Senate. How can this be addressed?
Recent history tells us the Electoral College problem is far from insuperable. The issue with the Senate, however, is far harder to deal with. Only a massive failure on the part of the GOP in government leads to effective Democratic control of both houses of Congress.
There are two ways to resolve the problem. The first is to create more states; the second is for the Democrats to show more tolerance for people who lean right in the culture wars. Rural residents don’t necessarily have an issue with a government that intervenes heavily in the economy (think farm subsidies here); they do, however, insist on legal safe spaces for Christians.
Which of these two solutions do you think is more plausible?