The Great Divide of 2016: Students reluctant to talk about presidential results
by victoria long
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Early in the morning of November 9th, 2016, Donald Trump became our nation’s president elect, earning 279 electoral college votes in the race against democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who ended up with 228 electoral college votes. The results of this highly anticipated and hotly debated election left the nation in shock and amazement. While some ended the long election day with celebrations, others solemnly mourned for the loss their candidate suffered.
After the results of the 2016 presidential election set in, many took to the streets in anger protesting the soon to be presidency of Donald Trump. Online, petitions quickly sprang up trying to garner signatures to stop Trump from entering the White House in January. The shock and amazement at Trump’s monumental win can also be felt locally, especially by the students of Bainbridge State College.
Polling students and questioning their beliefs about the candidates before election day proved a difficult process. Many students declined to share their political leanings and affiliations, while others openly criticized both candidates and their effectiveness to govern our nation. One student commented that this year of campaigning and mud-slinging, and the media frenzy that has surrounded both candidates has been in effect “orchestrated chaos”. Although some students voiced their disgust and mistrust of both candidates, others had good things to say about the prospective changes that each candidate could bring to our country. Religious liberty and healthcare were among the chief reasons for one student’s support of Trump.
Many students also declined to be interviewed and polled on their opinion after the election results were in, but a few managed to voice their opinions, as long as these opinions were kept anonymous. One student was openly surprised at the results, believing that Clinton would take the role as our nation’s newest president. Although feeling indifferent as to whether they felt happy or upset about the results, this student argued that it was nice to see someone who wasn’t a politician running for office. He admits that Trump’s charisma and larger than life presence could have been an influencing factor in the minds of voters. According to this student, not only did Trump’s ability to play the showman influence voters, but his ability to catch on to the anger and frustration felt by the majority of white American middle class workers was seen.
Although Trump’s campaign has been a roller coaster ride, Americans can only hope that our new president elect will embody the spirit of the American people while protecting the rights of all men, women, and children, no matter their race, religion, or sexuality. Will Trump’s presidency usher in an era of job creation, reduced taxes, lower healthcare premiums and a booming economy? Only time, and the cooperation between the politicians in our government and the voice of the American people, will tell.