Once again, the presidential election results have left nearly half of the country feeling left out of power. We are divided between rural and urban, rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats. Power will change hands, but the average voter will remain unrepresented. It’s red, then blue, then red again –– over and over the cycle repeats. The president takes the credit and blame, and Congress hides in the background.

Congress has failed to act on immigration, the debt and our crumbling infrastructure. When the new administration takes office, it will have to deal with internal divisions, rising inflation, and a world on the brink of war. What happens next will determine the future for many average Americans. While many will look to the new president to act on these problems, it’s Congress and the people who must step up.

The imbalance in America started back during the Gilded Age. As innovation blossomed, industrialization, urbanization and immigration grew, reshaping America and its political philosophy. The 1920 Census was the first to record a population over 100 million and the first to record urban populations surpassing rural populations.

These dramatic population shifts triggered significant changes in political power within Congress — many members were concerned with the concentration of power in urban areas. There was debate........

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