As everyone already knows, we just had our 2016 Presidential Election, in which Donald Trump has been voted to be our president for the next four years. For background, I am a Political Science major, concentrating in American Politics, so this is pretty much my career playground. I am also double minoring in Sociology and Mass Communication, which plays a larger role in politics than most people think.
There are very mixed feelings about this outcome. For most minorities, the LGBT+ community, and women, this outcome evoked a lot of fear and anxiety for what's to come. I don't blame them. As a woman of color, I am fearful of what this presidency can turn into. But, fear not. There are plenty of safe spaces where you can find people to talk to and who can help you get through this time. You can even volunteer at these places and help others through this as well.
If you were a Trump supporter, think about the reasons why you supported him. Think about what this means for people who are discriminated against and marginalized. If the things he has said don't bother you, harm you, or cause you fear, you may be privileged in your skin color, gender, or socioeconomic background. You can't help the fact that you have these privileges, and they will always be an advantage for you. But, talk to people who don't have them. Try to understand why they're scared of this presidency. Use your privilege to protect them and unite people together.
For political scientists, analysts, and anyone in the political field, this election was a shock for us because we predicted the outcome completely wrong. All odds seemed against Trump and we were for sure Hillary had a win on her hands. But, obviously, this was not the case. It's very discouraging, but this give us an opportunity to figure out what factors are contributing to these election outcomes so we can predict them better. These next four years are going to be an interesting time to be in politics.
So, what does this Trump presidency mean? Can he do whatever he wishes? Well, if you've been following him for quite a while, his views seem extremely radical and unpredictable, which emits fear in people in itself. The fact that both chambers of Congress are majority Republican also gives the notion that they will approve everything he wants to do. This isn't necessarily true. There are many Republicans who don't agree with Trump and don't think he should've won the presidency. Therefore, he may have a harder time getting things done than we think.
So, now what? What will he be like? That's undetermined, but we have to wait and see. Personally, I'm hoping he just sits there for the fame and more money and in four years, this will be over. It's very wishful thinking, but it's not impossible. In the meantime, this is what we, as citizens, can do.
Join progressive movements. Get organized. If you are a college/university student, I highly encourage you to join a Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapter. If your school doesn't have one, start one, and start making changes. You have a right to protest. You have a right to voice your opinion, and make sure your government is working for you. If you don't like the way things are being run, you have a right to change them. If you are eligible to vote, please register and vote in every election. Please vote in off-year elections, where you can vote out congressmen you don't approve of, and vote in congressmen you do approve of. Be an activist. Change starts with the citizens who are angry and want something done. Be that change. Politics isn't a career game; it's something you can get involved in no matter who you are.
