Realities of a Geography-Restricted Presidency
Living on the nation’s other side of the Mississippi River has implications outside of transportation and commerce. One such consequence is the lack of representation of presidents born west of the Mississippi River. While it is easy to assume that a majority of presidents over our country’s 235-year history have been born near the heart of politics, in fact only four of 45 have been born in states outside of the 13 original, east of the Mississippi.
The city of Kenosha, Wisconsin holds a special place in presidential history. It was the birthplace of the most recent president, Ronald Reagan, and the only other president not born in a member of the original Thirteen colonies; Ulysses S. Grant. Between the two of them, Reagan and Grant represented a stark contrast in political ideologies – Reagan ardently supported the conservative wing of the Republican Party, whereas Grant emerged from the Civil War as a leader of and promoter of the Republican’s progressive wing.
As the nation has continued to grow, the West and its influence has risen in politics, especially geographically speaking. With the behemoth states of California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and more, the population of the West has increased exponentially, yet few presidents have been born within them. The other two presidents born on western soil were Richard Nixon and Barack Obama, who were both born in California.
The question of why far fewer presidents were born in states west of the Mississippi River has long remained a mystery to many. One perspective argues that the centralization of power in the East has long made it the primary source from which presidential candidates are chosen. With the political stronghold of the East and the history of electing presidents of largely similar cultural backgrounds and experiences, a bias is created, leaving little room for candidates and presidents from other regions of the nation.
There is no one definitive answer as to why there aren’t more presidents west of the Mississippi, however, through which a clear understanding can be gained. Regardless, to really gain a proper assessment of the issue it is important to look not only at what happens when a resident west of the Mississippi River attains the Oval Office, but also at who is not given the opportunity to do so.
Symbolic Representation
One of the major implications of the lack of Western-born presidents is what it symbolically represents. namely, that the West is not seen by the political establishment as a viable resource for leadership; this could create a further divide among the American people between those in the East and West with regard to economic opportunities and political representation.
For many on the West, this lack of representation has become a symbol of their alienation from the mainstream political discourse. It is difficult for these citizens to relate to issues that are discussed in the news or through elected officials, as their experiences and feelings can be drastically different. This lack of representation can ultimately lead to feelings of disempowerment, a lack of incentive to participate in the national conversation, and a sense of a disconnect between their political lives and those of their fellow citizens.
This feeling of alienation has become even more pronounced in recent years, as the population of the West continues to grow and its culture continues to diversify. As residents of the West continue to feel increasingly disconnected and disenfranchised from the national conversation, their need for leadership that resembles them and their needs has grown as well.
Shift in Political Representation
This has left many calling for a shift in political representation. They are demanding to see the West represented in the Oval Office and in the upper echelons of the American political system. There are a number of ways this could be achieved. For instance, campaigns could become more geographically diverse, putting candidates from the West on the ballot who are representative of the needs of the region. Or, major political parties could start to focus on recruiting candidates from the West, giving them the support and exposure they need to mount a successful campaign.
At the same time, there needs to be a stronger push to include more voices and spotlight more stories from the West in the public conversation. This could involve creating more public platforms and making the media more accountable for representing the diverse perspectives of the West. Ultimately, these changes would help foster an environment in which Westerners feel seen, heard, and connected.
In order to make any significant change, residents of the West have to be proactive and vocal in their support for leaders and candidates who share similar beliefs and goals. This could involve working with local organizations or groups to reach out to potential leaders and candidates, or working with members of the legislature to help create legislation tailored for the specific needs of their state or region. By doing so, the West may one day see its first president.
Population Disparities
The population disparities between the East and the West are one of the key factors in the rift of presidential representation. The West is currently composed of 12 states and serves as home to nearly one third of the nation’s population, with California being the most populated state. However, representation in the Federal Government has been slower to catch up to population distribution, and influences of the people of those states have not been accurately represented in the political landscape thus far.
Gaining proper representation may prove to be difficult given the population differences between the East and the West. The East is comprised of 9 states, less populated than their western counterparts yet still accounting for nearly a quarter of the nation’s population. With higher concentrations of voting power than the West, the East has been able to influence the political landscape and nominate candidates to represent the unified perspective of their populous.
In order to break this divide, the West must make an effort to advocate for the needs of their states, nominate leaders from the region to serve on the Federal level, and create avenues for the collective voice of their region to be heard by policy makers in the East.
Implications of a Political Divide
The divide in Presidential representation between the East and the West can have serious implications if not addressed. Currently, all 45 presidents have come from the same side of the Mississippi and have had similar backgrounds – largely male, white, and affluent. This homogeneity means that issues that are important to women and people of color, especially those from the West, are frequently overlooked.
This lack of representation has led to an unbalanced representation of issues, policy preferences, and perspectives. Among the primary concerns for people living in the West, many feel that the lack of representation in government perpetuates a cycle of marginalization and discrimination, diminishing their ability to have their voices heard in the political process.
The consequences of this divide can be serious and long-lasting. Political divides create an environment in which people from one side of the nation feel disconnected from the other side. This divide between the East and the West can and should be addressed in order to ensure that all of the country’s residents have an equal voice and opportunity to be represented.
Eliminating the Geography Divide
The question of where presidents are born and what it symbolizes is an important one. There is an undeniable truth in the fact that more presidents have been born east of the Mississippi River than those born in states in the West. This speaks to a lack of representation and a possible bias against the West by the political system.
In order to create a more equal and representative government, it is important for the West to participate more actively in the election process. This can include creating policies that reflect the needs of the people from the area, as well as nominating and supporting candidates from the region in future presidential elections. Moreover, it is important for the media to be more accountable for its representation of stories from the West, helping to create a more unified front among citizens from both sides of the Mississippi River.
The lack of representation for the West in the president’s office is a real issue and one that should not be taken lightly. It is up to everyone to work together to ensure that all citizens of the United States have an opportunity to be represented at the highest levels of government.
