Image by Cornell University Library via Flickr

I have been watching the news and reading a lot today about last nights elections results. And in short, I have seen the liberal news stations trying to cover up the black eyes and busted noses like a fighter who has just lost his fight and so gives an interview wearing sunglasses to cover his battered mug.

The Republicans gained sixty to seventy seats from the democrats taking back the Congress by a large margin. In short the democrats have just received a spanking.

The Republicans took six of the ten seats needed to take control in the Senate at the moment with a couple of races still too close to call. Either way still a unanimous decision on principle.

In the congress there will be BIG change in how business is done as usual. Every one of the new Republican representatives who were just voted in by the people ran on an agenda of smaller government, less government spending, stopping obamas agenda of socialist programs geared to hurt our economy causing government to grow and especially nixing the obamanation called obamcare.

In the Senate many Republican and democrat incumbents had the scare of their political lives and if they did not hear the tea partiers and conservative constitutionalists banging on their front steps than they are simply ignorant or deaf.

One thing is for certain. Our Nation will be ran for the next two years until the next election cycle in 2012 by representatives in the Senate and House who will be governing with an ear to the ground listening to the drums of the people.

This midterm election is not quite a ’slam dunk’ for any candidate in any race for any office. Why not? Well, the main answer is one that most people already know. The majority of the voters in this country is not happy with how our government is handling the main issues and is ready for some serious changes.

In most of the print and televised campaign advertisements there is a general ‘promise’ being made by all candidates. They are promising to create jobs and get America back to work. For anyone who has watched company after company either relocate to a foreign country or shut down from lack of business; the question is where do they plan to find these jobs?

Our government has done little to prevent these closings and building are sitting empty now that were at one time flourishing. Any career field that is nonessential has felt the wrath of these business closings. The effect of one factory shutting down production impacts the entire community.

When a business closes:

• Companies that supplied that business may have to close or lay off people
• Surrounding restaurants, gas stations and others near that location will have to close
• Retail stores will have less business as those workers have to budget with unemployment insurance

There are many more reasons that could be listed but the point is that the ripple effect of one large factory closing will financially harm the whole community. So the question remains…where are the politicians going to get the jobs they are promising?

An even bigger, more immediate issue is the deadline for the unemployment extention that will follow shortly after the election. There are still few viable options for anyone looking for a job that will pay enough to support a family. The larger percentage of unemployed Americans wants to know how they are supposed to provide food, shelter and medical care for their families without a job and without unemployment insurance payments.

Too many of the campaign advertisements refer to incumbents that voted a pay raise for themselves in this economy to think that unemployed workers who have exhasuted their extenstions won’t take that to heart when casting their ballots. This election may see many of the incumbent office holders lose their bid for reelection as voters look for someone they can elect who will help out with this recession rather than ignore the needs of the voters.

When the events leading up to, during and after the earthquake of January 12th have been examined, we are sure that it will become quite clear to all, that the government of the day lacked the skill, will and capacity needed to handle this crisis in a pragmatic manner! This lack coupled with the enormity and complexity of the task to rebuild an already devastated and under developed country, resulted only in fuelling the ensuing chaos which is still very evident today, seven (7) months later!

Radical changes needed in the political process!

This is another lesson for the people of Haiti, who have constantly and consistently faced disappointments in the failure of their elected officials, to live up to the promises made during the electioneering process! In fact Successive governments, whether backed by the United States, France or the European Union, have all failed in their attempts to move the country forward economically and or socially! It is for this reason that we believe that the time has come for a radical change in the direction of the country’s politics as well its political ideology!

Wyclef Jean!Musician, song writer and singer!

It is for this reason that we believe that renowned musician, song writer and singer Wyclef Jean’s emergence on the political scene as one of the candidates for the office of president of Haiti; is a very timely and necessary action! As such, let’s be absolutely clear, whether he becomes the next Haitian president or not; this move is exactly what Haiti and its people need at this time. The emergence and coming together of the young and not so young “honest, forthright and brilliant Haitian minds” as they seek to chart a newer, more just and realistic way forward for their country and its millions inhabitants!

The well being of the Haitian people, a necessary priority!  

The call therefore, should be for others like Wyclef Jean, who has Haiti at their heart and the well being of the Haitian people as their priority and main reason for seeking to serve their country; to step forward and lead the charge to bring about a new way of doing things to Haiti! Such a move will encourage and bring to the table, a different mindset, a new way of thinking, fresher and more realistic ideas as well as a more viable and cohesive approach, to solving the problems of this country! In all fairness to the people of Haiti, there should be a brand new candidate for every electable position in the next election! By ensuring that this becomes their reality, all of the incumbents would recognize that “it is no longer business as usual” but time for realistic and positive change in the politics of this impoverished country!

Transforming the political and ideological landscape!

Having this type of response and commitment from the more youthful, well thinking, educated and affluent section of the Haitian society, would help in ensuring that real and tangible changes begin to take place in all areas of public life throughout the country! This we believe, would result in the commencement of the process of transforming the political and ideological landscape, as well as setting the stage for greater fiscal management and responsibility, accountability and  transparency on the part of the country’s leaders! This new found awareness and openness that these changes would usher in, would then serve as the base upon which to build a newer and better future for all Haitians!

The birth of a new Haiti!

It would also serve as the beacon and catalyst that would prompt the majority of the Haitian people who are now totally disillusioned with the state of affairs in their country, to become a part of this new found change! This would certainly become a motivating factor for all, to begin working in a cohesive manner for the forging of a better, more organized and fair Haitian society! A reflection of which would be the exhibition of a greater sense of cooperation and togetherness, equal rights and justice for all, as they move in unison towards the same goal! The birth of a new Haiti!

It is important therefore that Wyclef Jeans efforts, become the rallying cry for all well thinking Haitians with their country at their heart, to become the heart of their country’s march forward into a far more prosperous, equal, just and secure society!

dexomacsnrthe1st,

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   Incumbents are also known to have raised more money in the past compared to challengers and open seats. Congressional candidates get no government funds and money must come from individual donors or from their own pockets. There are rules that limit an individual on how much and individual can give due to the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act. Donors tend to not be fat cats, so people contribute $100 to $200 dollars. But the controversy of the contents with the articles is that in the congressional elections this year, the trend is really different. Republican incumbents are being knocked off their seats due to raising little money from their campaigning. And all the new challengers who are mostly Democratic have out risen the Republicans in raising funds. Incumbents are also shown to become somewhat a burden to the party because the Republican party does not have enough money to defend the incumbents which caused to the 30 seats being left open. The Democrats have created base old donors who give small donations, around $100 to $200 each as mentioned in the textbook. And through this money, they were able to raise more money than the Republicans, which has not happened since 1991. The Republicans have not created a base of donars who donate in smaller amounts and since the Campaign Finance Reform in 2002, it has been hard for them to recruit new contributors.