Via Vox, here’s a colorful map from Broadview Networks that helps illustrate one reason that policymaking in Congress often seems so disconnected from the real world. It’s because policymakers tend to be pretty well-off folks living in a pretty well-off region that shelters them from the problems many of the rest of us encounter. If you live in Missouri, you might be annoyed that internet speeds in the US are so low. But if you live in Washington DC or northern Virginia, guess what? Your internet speed is pretty good! Virginia is ranked #1 in the nation, and DC is right behind it. So is it any wonder that this really doesn’t seem like a pressing problem in Congress? Especially when all the big ISPs are telling you that there’s plenty of competition already—plenty!—and then slipping a few grand to your Super PAC? Of course it’s not.
We have a new comment system! We are now using Coral, from Vox Media, for comments on all new articles. We'd love your feedback.