Today, the people of the United States
of America will go to the polls to vote in the 45th and next President
of the country. To many watchers within and outside the country, fondly
described by its citizens as ‘God’s-own-country’, the people will not
only be performing their civic responsibility; they will be putting the
country’s over 200-year-old democracy to test once again.
of America will go to the polls to vote in the 45th and next President
of the country. To many watchers within and outside the country, fondly
described by its citizens as ‘God’s-own-country’, the people will not
only be performing their civic responsibility; they will be putting the
country’s over 200-year-old democracy to test once again.
The last time that American voters faced
such an onerous task was 2008, when the then Senator Barack Obama, a
candidate of the Democratic Party, broke the jinx by emerging the first
black to be sworn-in as President after a keenly contested election.
such an onerous task was 2008, when the then Senator Barack Obama, a
candidate of the Democratic Party, broke the jinx by emerging the first
black to be sworn-in as President after a keenly contested election.
This time, the race for the White House
is clearly between former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who is
the standard bearer of the Democrats and the Republican candidate,
Donald Trump.
is clearly between former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who is
the standard bearer of the Democrats and the Republican candidate,
Donald Trump.
While one is on the verge of making
history as the first woman to be sworn in as President of the US, the
other is a highly successful entrepreneur and vintage ‘money bag.’
history as the first woman to be sworn in as President of the US, the
other is a highly successful entrepreneur and vintage ‘money bag.’
Both of them are strong contenders, no
doubt and over the past months, they have been involved in vigorous
campaigns targeted at the soul of the average voter across the US.
doubt and over the past months, they have been involved in vigorous
campaigns targeted at the soul of the average voter across the US.
But the election campaigns have been
described as the most dramatic, the most absorbing and the ‘grubbiest’
ever witnessed in the history of the United States.
described as the most dramatic, the most absorbing and the ‘grubbiest’
ever witnessed in the history of the United States.
The race for the White House has also
been dogged by controversy and scandals, early warning signals to voters
that they will need to do additional reality checks on the candidates
before leaving their homes to vote on Election Day.
been dogged by controversy and scandals, early warning signals to voters
that they will need to do additional reality checks on the candidates
before leaving their homes to vote on Election Day.
At different stages, both candidates
have been entangled in controversy. The latest is about Clinton’s use of
a private e-mail server over a general one during her tenure as
secretary of state.
have been entangled in controversy. The latest is about Clinton’s use of
a private e-mail server over a general one during her tenure as
secretary of state.
Although Trump has wormed his way to
reckoning through a very aggressive campaign that has also literally
left nothing to chance, he has been accused of sexually abusive
behaviour and for making certain unacceptable comments.
reckoning through a very aggressive campaign that has also literally
left nothing to chance, he has been accused of sexually abusive
behaviour and for making certain unacceptable comments.
Still, both candidates have not
neglected to deal with the most pressing issues affecting the electorate
in their campaigns. There have been debates, as always, around key
subjects, such as the American economy, taxation, national security,
foreign policy, criminal justice, healthcare, childcare plan, education,
social security, immigration and refugees, infrastructure, urban
renewal and more.
neglected to deal with the most pressing issues affecting the electorate
in their campaigns. There have been debates, as always, around key
subjects, such as the American economy, taxation, national security,
foreign policy, criminal justice, healthcare, childcare plan, education,
social security, immigration and refugees, infrastructure, urban
renewal and more.
Some of these subjects have been
frequently raised in the campaigns because of the importance attached to
them and their relevance to law and order. For instance, Trump’s call
for a review of the criteria for selecting immigrants based on their
likelihood for success and their merit, skill and proficiency, as well
as his insistence on an immigration policy that will put the interest of
the American citizen first above that of the immigrant, provoked a
wide range of reactions across the states. Just as much as Clinton’s
plan to expand social security and her comments in this regard have
raised hope in a possible and significant reversal of the social
security policy among the people.
frequently raised in the campaigns because of the importance attached to
them and their relevance to law and order. For instance, Trump’s call
for a review of the criteria for selecting immigrants based on their
likelihood for success and their merit, skill and proficiency, as well
as his insistence on an immigration policy that will put the interest of
the American citizen first above that of the immigrant, provoked a
wide range of reactions across the states. Just as much as Clinton’s
plan to expand social security and her comments in this regard have
raised hope in a possible and significant reversal of the social
security policy among the people.
Although the events of the past months
indicate that none of the candidates has a clear edge over the other, in
terms of popularity, the voters will decide in the end who to run the
affairs of the nation for the next four years.
indicate that none of the candidates has a clear edge over the other, in
terms of popularity, the voters will decide in the end who to run the
affairs of the nation for the next four years.
However, there is an indication that a
significant proportion of the American population will not be allowed to
participate in the election. Investigation shows that state laws has
stripped about six million Americans convicted of various offences of
their voting rights.
significant proportion of the American population will not be allowed to
participate in the election. Investigation shows that state laws has
stripped about six million Americans convicted of various offences of
their voting rights.
According to an analyst, 21st Century
citizens of the United States can lose the franchise for committing any
one of a much longer list of offences, which vary in severity and
include kidnapping, murder, resisting arrest and vandalism, among
others. If this is true, it means that a large number of potential
voters have been disenfranchised and they will certainly be unable to
join their compatriots in choosing their country’s next leader.
citizens of the United States can lose the franchise for committing any
one of a much longer list of offences, which vary in severity and
include kidnapping, murder, resisting arrest and vandalism, among
others. If this is true, it means that a large number of potential
voters have been disenfranchised and they will certainly be unable to
join their compatriots in choosing their country’s next leader.
Source: Punch!