New term marked by Republican control

Breeze Perspectives

Americans once again went to bed on election night not knowing who their future president would be in the morning. A little over half of the voters in this year’s presidential election woke up pleased, while a little less than half woke up with a dismal outlook for the future.

People across the globe waited anxiously to hear the results, and many quickly voiced their opinions thereafter. Some European leaders confessed to putting away their champagne bottles, while other leaders around the world rejoiced at the continuation of U.S.-led conflicts in the Middle East aimed at stopping terrorism. It was no secret that this election held the hopes and dreams of a world filled with conflict. Americans went to the polls not just to determine the fate of their fellow Americans, but of the world abroad.

So what exactly does the world have to look forward to now that Bush has been reelected? For starters, an offensive in Fallujah, Iraq that was stalled until after the election. After gaining his ‘political capital,’ President Bush intends to spend it by maintaining his current foreign policy agenda. Unfortunately, the same foreign policy has resulted in the virtual abandonment of the United States by the rest of the world. Don’t expect to see the numbers of non-American troops in Iraq increase.

Furthermore, this style of bullying into submission those nations who do not meet the Bush Administration’s criteria of a non-terrorist state only will lead to additional conflicts. Iran — whose parliament recently stood up in large numbers to chant "Death to America" — and North Korea — who the Bush Administration has refused to even speak to — both are likely targets for the next wave of Bush’s righteous cleansing of the "axis of evil."

This expanded war on terror will require more troops and more funds. Soldiers are already being stretched thin, underpaid and overworked. And if recruitment does not increase significantly, a draft will become a real possibility. Funds will have to come from a cutback of government spending on domestic programs like health care or education, or from an increase in the deficit. The money won’t come from taxes since Bush has vowed to continue his tax cuts.

With control of the executive branch and a majority in both houses of Congress, Republicans now are likely to pursue their ideological agenda. This means an anti-gay marriage amendment, bans on stem cell research and stricter abortion laws are all possibilities. It also means more restricted lands will likely be opened up to oil drilling, more civil liberties will likely be lost with the renewal of the Patriot Act, Social Security will disappear, health care costs will keep rising, jobs will continue to be outsourced and college students will receive no new federal funding to help curve the dramatic increases in the cost of tuition.

In short, it’s going to be a long four years. The true test of strength and ingenuity will be seen in how the coming generation of Americans solves the problems today’s leaders have created for them.

Patrick Callahan is an undeclared freshman.