On Monday, Jan. 20, the political landscape of the U.S. will undergo a seismic shift of power as Republican Donald Trump reassumes the Oval Office.
Future with a Republican dominated government
Not only will the presidential office be held by a Republican, but the Republican party (GOP) now controls the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court — in other words, all of the branches of the federal government.
When one party controls all three branches of government like it does now — called a “unified government” — it makes it easier to pass legislation proposed by the majority party, resulting in a significant uptick in government spending. It also aids the writing and ratification process of bills as there is a decreased chance of delay due to a party majority in both houses.
Asked about the next four years, students interviewed by The Falcon offered varying reactions, ranging from dismay to grudging acceptance.
For senior Sameer Kapur, the doomsday scenarios laid out by some Democrats following the November election may not be as extreme as they feared.
“As a result of the election, I think [legislature] isn’t going to be as left leaning as we have [seen] in the past. I firmly believe that we won’t see anything positive on abortion or transgender rights, two of the hottest topics [right now],” Kapur said. “But, I don’t think any extreme right wing things are going to be passed either. They’ve tried to [ban] same sex and interracial marriage, but even some of the people that affiliate with the Republican Party are more moderate.”
Senior Anisha Rahut admitted to feeling absolute shock when Trump was elected.
“I thought, there’s no way this is happening again,” Rahut said.
Likewise, senior Tamar Garniek said, “I was really disappointed in our country. The fundamentals of the United States are liberty and freedom and I genuinely feel like we should never have a convicted felon in office, no matter what the rules are.”
Students also voiced their opinions on Trump’s past actions, and the impact his election will have on civil rights across the nation.
Garniek added, “I think [his re-election allows] people to think it’s OK to [make] the comments he’s made before. He’s so degrading to women and it really makes me feel like a second class citizen. [With him] in office, I’m scared for the future of our generation’s access to health care.”
Immigration and Economic policy
Trump has unveiled his plans for the future of the nation, which include radical change on immigration policy and increased tariffs on imported goods, particularly from China.
More specifically, Trump has proposed a 60% tariff on all goods imported from China, as well as 20% on all other goods. The purpose of these tariffs is to decrease competition for American businesses, but it is projected to inflate prices for the consumer.
He is also planning mass deportations of illegal immigrants along the southern border using military personnel, which is facing criticism not only from the public, but also from the pentagon itself. Trump has also stated that he is prepared to declare the nation in a state of national emergency in order to further his agenda.
“When it comes to deportation, I think that [the MAGA campaign] has done a really good job at fear mongering,” Kapur said. “[There] are people who live nowhere close to the border who are fearing for their lives. There’s this rhetoric [which is] coming in, like ‘they’re eating the dogs,’ [and] I wonder if more direct action is going to be taken this time around. I’ve never heard outright lies of this kind before.”
On the other hand, students also believe that Trump’s background as a successful businessman can help boost the American economy, which is currently swimming in nearly $35 trillion in debt.
“I think that with Trump’s business background, he can be really beneficial for the country’s economy. A business based mindset, which he’s focused on, is really important for the economy [to succeed],” sophomore Shayna Vu said.
While the economy is projected to skyrocket, impoverished communities are expected to struggle with the rising inflation, leading unemployment rates to double.
Access to healthcare
Under Trump’s administration, matters relating to health care and reproductive rights may face a grim future.
“I am truly scared for women’s rights, climate change, healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights because the Make America Great Again (MAGA) party has clearly shown its hatred to all of these topics, and they have control of every branch,” said junior Nila Venkataratnam, the president of the SHS Democracy Matters club.
A large portion of Trump’s campaign centered around removing gender affirming health care protections, particularly for minors. In fact, measures are already being taken in DC, where they passed a law saying that trans women were no longer allowed to use the women’s restroom on Capitol Hill.
Will Saratoga Change?
Although a Trump presidency will have major impacts on the nation, students acknowledge that it likely will not change the Saratoga community as much.
“Saratogans are privileged in more ways than one,” Kapur said. The industries we work in likely won’t be [affected] that greatly. I don’t think that the tech industry is going to take a hit, but like some other industries, like blue collar work might. Also, in terms of taxes, we can afford to pay a little bit more for groceries, but most [other] people can’t. So, I think Saratoga is mainly going to stay the same.”
Along with Saratoga’s economic cushion, the city is also sheltered by the state’s commitment to preserve personal rights. California’s governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to protect access to safe abortions, as well as to make the state a “sanctuary” for immigrants.
Rather than feeling discouraged by the results of the election, Garniek believes that the impacts of a Trump presidency can prompt an increase in political education for future generations, so that next election, when students are allowed to vote, they are able to vote knowledgeably.
“I hope [the results of this election] builds knowledge to make the next generation more educated,” Garniek said. “I hope that instead of building hatred, our students, because we’re going to be able to vote [in] the next election, are able [to make] a difference.”
