I’d like to begin by expressing my horror that in researching for this article, Google supplied me with a search suggestion which said, “Is Republican the conservative or liberal party?”
Who needs a Halloween scare when you have that?
But truthfully, people are generally very uninformed in terms of politics. Midterm elections are coming up next week, and people have a lot of questions as to why they even matter. Only about 40% of voters vote in midterms each year and most people don’t know much about them.
However, these midterms are important. Our government, for the past two years, has been in the “Republican Trifecta.” The House of Representatives, the Senate and the Executive branch are all ruled by Republicans. This trifecta has created a compromise of checks and balances in this country, one that we are trying to fix with these midterms by flipping the Senate and the House from red to blue.
To flip the House, the Democrats must have 218 representatives out of the total 435. Based on current polling trends, the Democrats are predicted to safely win 220 seats. There are also 17 toss up races, meaning it’s too close to predict a winner at this time. Because Democrats have an almost guaranteed 220 wins, they could lose every single toss up and still win back the House.
The Senate, however, is a much tighter race, though one I think the Democrats will win. To obtain the majority in the Senate, the Democrats need to hold all their existing seats and flip four seats. They have a high chance of flipping a seat in North Carolina, where they are running the favored Roy Cooper, who has developed a very good rapport with North Carolina voters. However, the other five races that Democrats have a chance to flip seats in are incredibly close. I believe they will manage to flip Alaska, Ohio and Texas, with Maine also being a potential win. Conversely, if Democrats lose the seat in Michigan, which is also a very close race, they will have to obtain five seats to get the majority — they will have to win North Carolina, Alaska, Ohio, Texas and Maine. The chances of this are not high, nor are they promising.
But why does this really matter? Why are we so worried about this trifecta when there have been others in history?
Because unlike other times in history, our president is actively committing tyranny.
Having a Republican supermajority means that Donald Trump can do almost anything he wants, and Congress does not correct or admonish the behavior. Congress has become submissive to President Trump, and thus the checks and balances system our founding fathers set up to prevent tyranny is collapsing.
During the past two years of Congress being majority Republican and subordinate to President Trump, he has used congressional powers that are out of his jurisdiction to do whatever he wishes. Donald Trump froze, withheld or delayed billions of dollars in congressionally appropriated funds, attempting to reshape spending passed by the legislative. He passed tariffs via emergency powers, although the power of the purse — the power to impose tariffs — is specifically designated to Congress in the Constitution. He has bypassed or challenged statutory protections by removing or sidelining independent agency leaders and members of board who are designed to have insulation from direct presidential control. He has moved to dismantle congressionally chartered or funded entities, including parts of the Department of Education. He has deployed federal law enforcement and taken military actions without congressional approval. He has attempted to amend the Constitution to outlaw birthright citizenship and enforce immigration measures that infringe upon Congressional authority over immigration law.
And what has happened? What repercussions have been faced?
Congress has the power to investigate acts that infringe on congressional duties or which abuse executive power. They have the power to pass new laws limiting executive action. They have the power to impeach the president.
And what have they done?
Nothing.
If the “Republican Trifecta” continues, that’s exactly what you can expect for the next two years: a Congress that will never hold Donald Trump responsible for his actions.
So, do your research. Look into the candidates in your district. Look into your state or district to find out if the election there is important.
You don’t have to vote Democrat. Vote for a candidate that won’t allow dictatorship.