Make America heal again

Afair result. Not a blue wave as some knowit-alls predicted, but the Democrats would be pleased after breaching Republican defences. The midterm vote tally that puts the Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives and the Republicans in control in the Senate was the best verdict under the circumstances though it could further divide a split nation. Enhanced checks and balances have been added to the legislative process through this verdict. This means US politics could see a shift from President Trump’s aggressive form of governance as his ability to push through laws on his terms could be curtailed. Democrats are back after two years in the doldrums, recovering from Hillary Clinton’s shock loss to Trump, who was then considered an outsider to Washington, and even to his Republican party. Now, they can make it difficult for the president and launch a series of probes — from his business affairs, to dodging taxes and make him cower in areas of conflicts of interest. For the record, the Democrats bagged more than the 23 seats they needed to take over the lower house. The president’s plans to build the wall on the border with Mexico could go up in smoke if the Democrats have their way. Trump could then blame his rivals for putting roadblocks on his path and ratchet up the rhetoric as he moves closer to a second term.

The Republican performance could be termed satisfactory despite the loss of the lower house because it gained three seats in the Senate. Trump remains the man to beat for the Democrats as his writ runs large over the GOP. The significance of the Republican control of the Senate must not be lost on the president’s political rivals as he still has the numbers to confirm his choices for top executive and judicial posts. But the bigger news is that America’s political decision-makers are getting younger, and they are women. They demand change from the status quo and they are Democrats. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Abby Finkenaue, both 29, are the youngest women to win House seats. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are the first Muslim women Congresswomen. There’s more diversity with Sharice Davids and Debra Haaland becoming the first Native American women to sit in Congress. America should see the emergence of these youthful and vibrant politicians as a ray of hope for a new dawn. Perhaps it’s time to Make America Heal again.