The New American Pathway

It has been a week since the election and the dynamics of the politics in Washington has not changed much.  John Boehner after the election proclaimed that the “people's mandate” favored the republicans and it was not to raise “marginal tax rates.” Quite a curious statement since the choice between ex-Governor Mitt Romney and President Barrack Obama had primarily been about the direction of the country (United States of America) and how to handle the continued financial crisis were are currently in and facing. Of the 39 states exit polled, approximately 60 percent stated that raising taxes on the wealthy, in order to pay their fair share, was one of the reasons they voted for President Obama.

Now, moderate democrats are preparing to give away the  prime position by suggesting that ex-Governor was right in suggesting in the later days of the campaign was: to “cap” deductions at 35,000 dollars, reducing taxes, within the margins by 20 percent, while reducing capital gains and corporate tax rates. The suggestion by the ex-Governor was flawed, in that, his budget also suggested an increase of two trillion dollars for defense spending over a ten year period, which calculates to a 200 billion dollars over ten years.

In addition, ex-Governor Romney also wanted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) setting back access and affordability to the average consumer. This in turn would add to the deficit and hinder the financial recovery needed according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports. To the everyday, and those who are not, Americans saw this message as moving the country backwards.

Elections have  consequences.

This should be understood by each side of the political aisle. It happened in 2010 with the backlash of a new electoral caucus – the Tea Party. And, now with the 2012 elections.  Failure to recognize this “truth” that “election have consequence” is to the detriment to a political party as the republican party found out this November.

Demographics matter. The shifting makeup of the American experience is due to not only “race,” but also, due to the the fact the racial majority has failed to recognize that the “other” is excelling despitethem and themselves.

The recognition of their (being the “other”) own empowerment can be obtained through the ballot box has begun crystallize in the conscious of these "others." Seeing the failure of their 2010 participation and the awareness of that failure  in legislatures across the country trying to restrict the access to the right to vote energized the base of liberals, moderates, and the disenfranchised.  Understanding their failure of the mid-terms to participate in this election would do themselves harm.

This demographic dynamic, if it continues, will be tough to over come in future elections unless the republican right is able to adapt and adopt more moderate stances. In addition, the republican party must start to see that the social justice views of inequity is not a path toward communism but a destination to egalitarianism. This destination will not arrive my life time, but the closing of the gap can be assured for the common interests of our country—and the continuing journey towards progress and the beacon of opportunity, hope, and being the “golden city on the hill.”