Um, it can always be worse. ;-)
You're not enough of a cynic if you think that it can't get worse!
:-)
For instance, one could imagine a time when the mid-west is under even greater stress due to a collapse in the [link|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer|Ogallala Aquifer] and associated water sources. If our national representatives are chosen purely based on population, there would be much less pressure for them to address such issues.
Of course, one could point at post-Katrina New Orleans and say that that future is already here, so what's the big deal... :-/
Cheers,
Scott.