Someday Our Kids Will Ask, How Did You Let This Happen?

Imagine an ignored child seated between distracted parents. His frustration and impatience build and finally erupt. The child’s outburst shocks his parents, but his reaction is reasonable; his parents’ neglect is a “betrayal.” This scenario is an apt metaphor for the current political moment. The American public feels ignored by government representatives and betrayed by an unrepresentative democracy that manifests in three ways:

1. Voting is more difficult for some than for others – Long lines at many voting booths inhibit those who hold several jobs or who can’t afford child care from casting ballots.
2. Not...