The impact of what has happened over the last 3 days cannot be overstated. Diverse groups of people who feel left out and underrepresented are unprecedentedly united. Could a reshuffling of power bring our country together? Buckle up, we’re about to find out.

Why is there so much wealth disparity between zip codes in the most prosperous country in the history of the world? Perhaps it is because our institutions reward wealth extraction from less prosperous areas to more affluent areas.

EX 1: Rural area is boosted by a locally owned steel producer that employs hundreds. It is purchased by private equity based in NY and closed. The PE realizes its can sell components of the plant and make a quicker buck. The community is left w/ loss of jobs, taxes, etc

EX 2: urban community is supported by a community bank based in its downtown. The bank is bought by a larger CA based firm and significantly downsized. Local goes under, real estate plummets and crime moves in. Home equity disappears and residents are trapped.

Wall Street and the coasts provide much needed liquidity to power our country. That is important. At the same time, our country needs to consider what we can do to lift “forgotten America”.

For years, I’ve heard that less prosperous areas need to “figure it out”. Some of that needs to happen, but realize we need some help. To pull ourselves up we need broadband, infrastructure, employers and vital, modern support systems in our communities.

Disclaimer: there are people smarter than I who understand this system better than me.

Both sides of my family trace their roots in Appalachia over a couple centuries and these are just my observations.