Where We're Headed: It's Not All Bad

The current American political system has been through much turmoil over this past election season. Never before has there been a candidate such as Donald Trump to win the office of president of the United States, being an outsider with such radical ideas. Although, on the surface, the current direction of United States politics seems to be headed into a downward spiral, we need to stay optimistic about the future of our country, its ability to bounce back, and its ability to govern itself.

The astounding demographics of the voters in the 2016 presidential election reveal much about the ways in which the country is changing. President Elect Donald Trump did well in areas of under-educated voters, winning 80% of all counties where 90% or more of voters lacked a college education. In addition to this, only roughly 8% of his supporters were racial minorities. The most telling demographic, however, is that 62% of Trump’s support base is made up of white men and women who lack college degrees. 

Throughout the past 8 years, the Obama administration has worked tirelessly to find a way for America to work for all of its inhabitants, not just the typically privileged. This large, select group of voters was swept up in a radical conservative backlash to the social progress recently made with regulations such as the Affordable Care Act, and the precedent set down by the Supreme Court that same-sex marriage is constitutional. The very group that was left out in all the social progress was the one that rose above expectations and elected the officials which will be installed this next January. As if so happens, all three branches of government has the potential to be a very accurate representation of this specific demographic.

A common feeling Americans, including myself, have after receiving this information is that we will not be represented equally in a government run but one political party. Another concern is that such a polarizing figure as Trump has divided, and will continue to divide, our representatives in Congress. 

Just as America has faced nearly impossible obstacles in the past, however, it will continue to thrive in the face of opposition. America has a long history of uniting during difficult situations and fighting through them. Even if a divided and unstable government is what a Trump Administration would bring about, we must stay optimistic about the future of America’s ability to come together and work through the hardships that will need to be endured, as well as America’s ability to bounce back and cause legitimate political change.