Trump: For Better or for Worse?

Like many Americans on November 9th, I was very disappointed, upset, angry, and scared to hear that Donald Trump would be the next president of the United States. But by 9 o'clock on November 8th, the truth was already settling in. Twitter was erupting with fear and concern as Trump took the lead in many unexpected states. By 10 o'clock, many of my friends, including Lauren, were messaging me as they cried in fear. By 11 o'clock, I had already accepted the harsh reality that a man with no political experience and the man who ran a campaign filled with hatred was going to run our country for the next four years. The unexpected happened, and this is how I'm handling it.

My initial feelings were fear and anger. I was/am angry that America allowed a man like Trump to win the presidency. I was/am angry that Clinton won the popular vote but was screwed over by the electoral college. In case you don't know what that means: approximately 59,800,000 people voted for Donald Trump, and approximately 60,100,000 people voted for Hillary Clinton. So Hillary Clinton should have become the next president based on the vote of America. However, we have the electoral college which is essentially a number of electors from each state who vote for the President and Vice President after the polls in their state have closed. And with this, the majority takes all of the votes. So, despite America voting Hillary Clinton, the electoral college overrode that choice. (This is a major problem with our democracy.) But I was also scared for what policies Trump and Pence were going to take away and put in place. I fear for my rights as a woman, and I fear for the rights of all LGBT+ people.

LGBT+ people and woman can expect some change here: Gay marriage. Conversion therapy and transgender rights. Abortion policies. Sexual assault cases. Planned Parenthood and birth control policies.

And this is hardly touching all of the things Trump will affect as President: Immigration. Environment. Trade. Foreign policy. Religious acceptance.

So much is at risk with Donald Trump and Mike Pence taking office. Not only this but Republicans are in control of the Senate and the House. And Trump will likely appoint 2-5 Supreme Court justices during his term who will (most likely) be conservative Republicans like himself. It's terrifying to see this happening as a young liberal in America.

I wanted to see college cost go down, acceptance go up, jobs increase, tax policies change, environment policies strengthen, and so much more. But I fear that the message Trump has created through his campaign is going to cause America to regress. And I am aware that Hillary wouldn't have changed or created everything that the youth of America needs, but she certainly wouldn't have created this fear and hatred that is running rampant through America right now. Hillary was a very flawed candidate, but Donald Trump is more so...

Despite everything, I hold onto hope. I hold onto the possibility that Trump will create jobs and deter the hate-filled environment he has created. I hold onto the motto "Love trumps hate" because we can still love each other no matter who is in office. I don't know what the next four years are going to hold, but it's going to be different. Things are going to change. And I don't know if it's for better or for worse yet... Time will tell.



 By Savannah Dishman


Article Source: Trump: For Better or for Worse?