Voters last Tuesday sent a clear message to the global community: America is ready to head in a new direction in a multitude of ways. The electoral college landslide of president-elect Barack Obama, the major gains made by the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the success of Democrats at the statewide and local levels cannot be misinterpreted.
Americans are fed up with the policies of the last eight years. Americans are fed up with a president who refuses to accept that mistakes in judgment were made and corrective action is needed. They are fed up with members of Congress who see no reason to respond to public outcry about the economy, health care and the cost of college tuition.
But make no mistake, Tuesday’s election was not merely a rejection of Republican ideology and political miscalculation. It was also an acceptance of what Obama and the Democratic Party have to offer. It was an endorsement of an end to the war in Iraq. It was an agreeing nod to efforts to create jobs and protect our environment at the same time, by investing in renewable energy sources. It was a signal that Americans are ready to tackle the health care crisis that has defined medicine in this nation for the past 20 years. And perhaps most importantly, from a historical perspective, it was an endorsement of the message that the Democratic Party has been sending from the beginning of this election in 2006: that the President of the United States need not be a white male, a woman or an African-American could lead this nation and we are beyond a point where demographic differences disqualify candidates from being elected to the highest office in the land.
The positive, hopeful messages coming out of Nov. 4 were felt especially strongly in Massachusetts, where voters rejected a tantalizing offer to have their income tax eliminated, despite the difficult, personal, economic and financial crises many voters face. Not only was this measure rejected, but voters were not fooled by promises of easy money, and that they are willing to make sacrifices on behalf of the greater public good.
Tuesday’s election returns made a positive statement, not only about the future of our nation, but about American voters themselves. Voters set turnout records in virtually all parts of the nation, and the results indicate voters understand that a new direction is needed in virtually every aspect of government.
Already we have seen positive signals of change, with President-elect Obama’s widely-praised selection of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff. The early focus on the economy – Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have wasted no time in putting together a major economic stimulus package – has communicated to the nation that getting our economy back on track will be the top priority of the Obama Administration.
Northeastern University College Democrats extends a sincere thanks to each and every student who registered to vote and cast his or her ballot, regardless of whom he or she voted for. The importance of remaining involved in politics and government, as well as remaining vigilant, cannot be overstated. One of the much-hailed aspects of this election has been the increased involvement of young persons; this is no time to disengage. It is important to continue to follow the news, be aware of the issues and cast a ballot in every election. President-elect Obama and the Democratic Congress have been given a mandate for change in this country; we are confident that the next four years will turn the United States in the right direction, and that history will look back on Nov. 4 as a pivotal turning point in our lifetime.
-Jason Palitsch is a sophomore political science major and president of the Northeastern University College Democrats.
