Darrell M. West is vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Previously, he was the John Hazen White Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He is the author of numerous books on American politics, campaigns and elections, and technology policy. His recent books include Megachange: Economic Disruption, Political Upheaval, and Social Strife in the 21t Century and Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust. He can be reached at DWest@Brookings.edu or through his webpage at www.InsidePolitics.org.