US elections Archives - Christian Vaatz

All of president Trumps lawsuits will probably not change the outcome of the US elections. Joe Biden won the peculiar “electoral vote”, and contrary to Tump’s election, Joe Biden also won the popular vote by more than 5 million votes. Thus, on the 20^th of January 2021, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46^th president of the USA.

Now it is time to look ahead. What will Joe Biden be able to accomplish as president? I dare to predict what is certainly a very hazy future.

As soon as Joe Biden takes over the office, he will undo some of the slog done by Trump. He will probably re-join the Paris Accord on Climate Change and try and roll back some of the nastiest measures to control immigration. Biden might well reduce some of roadblocks installed by the trade war against China, and will reaffirm the US commitments to its Allies, particularly the NATO.

The Senate is likely to be controlled by the Republicans under Mitch McConnell and his merry men (and women). That will limit Bidens ability to pass big impact policies. The stimulus package to revive the economy is going to be smaller than hoped for by most Democrats. Further enhancements to the Obamacare Act will be limited and the frugal Republicans would rally against any reversals of Trump’s Tax cuts. The far-left wing of the Democrats, lead by Ocasio-Cortez, would push for more social spending. She wants to see her famous dream of a “green new deal” become reality and an increase the Taxes on the super-rich.

These strong forces require the most skilled negotiations and political wrangling. Joe Biden is probably one of the most qualified to handle these delicate situations. But with one hand tied behind his back, and having been dealt a bad opening hand, the chances for proper changes are slim.

Bidens hand will change once the elections for 1/3 of the Senate seats are held in 2 years’ time. By then the Democrats should be able to convince the voters that, contrary to what Trump told them, they are not socialist or even communists. The Democrats should be able to gain more votes from the Latino communities in Florida and Texas. Even some of the rural white voters could be convinced that the lies, or in words of the current administration “alternative facts”, are simply not true and the central core of the Democrats can be trusted.

The gain of full control in 2022 will be to little too late for Biden. There is simply not enough time to experience the effects of the legislations that Biden will be able to pass while in control of both houses. Mr Bidens age will also count against him in the next elections and the American people would likely choose a Republican president in 2024, if they manged to shake off the Trump baggage.

As a one term president, the real value of Joe Biden’s victory is going to be unappreciated. Joe Biden did not win because his new policies are going to make racial tensions disappear. He did not win because his legislations are going to make society more just and fairer. He did not win because everybody is now more equal. Joe Biden’s victory was one of the most important ever. It shows that the truth trumps lies, that creating divisions in society only benefits those creating the divisions and that united is the best way to creating a better tomorrow.

Political leaders must be ideals that young kids look up to and aspire to be. They should reflect the best in human nature and defend the liberal values that previous generations have fought so hard for. They should be models’ citizens that feel honoured to be able to govern, not entitled to rule. They should show empathy for those in need and stand up to bullying and hatred. It is all what Joe Biden is, and what Donald Trump was not.

While the votes of the elections in the USA are still being counted, one thing is apparent. Donald Trump did surprisingly well. So well that he might even win the elections. No credible predictor or poll suggested that it might be a tight race. Trump was given an outside chance of between 3% and 15% of winning a second term. Now it looks like the odds are even, and the dream of a “blue wave” is shattered.

More worrying than a second term of a Trump presidency is what the election reflects on the society of America. One would have thought that a president who is accused of rape, who talked about groping girls, who paid less income taxes in the last 15 years than a primary school teacher and who blurs the lines of his own businesses and the state should have had a torrid time at the polls. There were so many books written about his chaotic style of management, his impulsive decision making and his love for dictators and kleptocrats, but hardly a word praising him. He used teargas on innocent peaceful demonstrators for a photo opportunity and called true American heroes of his own party (like John McCain) cowards. Trump has lied too many times to count and seems to be a blatant racist. Instead of defending the ideals of the free world, America has become the laughingstock of the world.

Any president with that track record would have, in normal times, not had a chance to gain any support. Yet, because of the massively increased voter turnout, there are now probably more people who voted for Trump than in the last elections. That is astonishing and worrying. Do voters even care if their leaders have characters to look up to? Why do so many believe his blatant lies? Besides Trump, Majorie Taylor Greene won a seat in Congress. She is a believer and promoter of the QAnon conspiracies which are at best far-right wacky ideas which make the Nazi propaganda of the 1930’s look like a bad b-grade movie. Why do citizens believe in this non-sense and support leaders who clearly have lost the moral high ground? It is a dangerous slope when minorities are being singled out as delinquent, and the leaders viewed as “a messiah sent by God”. Where is our society heading to?

But then should we be surprised when we live in a world where most do not read content that is longer than 280 characters, never mind a book. We adore stars not because of their acting talents, but because their willingness to expose their private live on TV. Life ambitions are not formed by your family and those you grow up with, but by complete strangers flooding you with posed pictures on Instagram. And your child makes more money in a year investing their pocket money in some arbitrary code called a cryptocurrency than you do working 5 days a week, 9 to 5.

It is a very turbulent world where we need leaders with a strong moral compass. Instead we are voting for clowns, Rambos, reality TV personalities and fools. It is a sad state of affairs.