How Inequality Explains the 2016 Election

The Takeaway

How do you explain the rise of Donald Trump and the state of the 2016 elections? Pundits and analysts point to fear, anger, cult of personality, and disillusionment with our political system.

While those are all viable reasons, some argue that Trump’s popularity is about something much more basic: Inequality. 

It’s an issue Democratic candidates have built platforms on. Bernie Sanders has built an entire career on the issue. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, equated it with “class warfare” and “envy” in the 2012 election against Barack Obama. 

George Packer, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America,” believes that inequality persists, and has even worsened, since 2012. And he says that it inequality is to blame for our mess today. 

Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!