On Tuesday night, it will appear that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. This should be a happy time for many, especially her supporters who have said all along that she had 3 million more votes than her opponent Bernie Sanders, who put up a valiant fight bringing many over to his side. As an African American woman, I should be joyful for she has claimed she will be the bridge to continue the policies of President Obama as his term comes to an end. She is “most prepared and well positioned” than any other presidential candidate in history as her supporters have been saying for the past six months. She should also be the odd-on favorite to defeat her Republican opponent who has literally self-destructed over the past few weeks. This should be a joyous time for a registered Democrat like myself that the first woman president would succeed the first African American one.
So why am I not happy?
I should be ecstatic, but I am not. Perhaps I am being too cynical about the democratic process. Perhaps I feel that by casting my presidential vote along with voting for my congressman will not do a thing for me in the future. In fact, I do not see any changes during the next four years that leads me to feel that the America I see will be status quo. I do not see the small changes another Clinton administration will fulfill. I do not see students that I teach or have taught have a future that she promises will happen while she is President.
For example, let’s start with higher education. As previously mentioned, I am a college instructor. No, let me be more specific: I am an adjunct instructor at three colleges. This means I do not have guaranteed health insurance (I am under ACA.) I do not have steady employment During the summer months, I literally have to find a way to survive before my first paycheck in late September. I am among many educators in this country who would love to work full time but are unable to due to budgetary restraints at many public (and private) colleges and universities. One of the colleges I work at recently let go of full time lecturers and has placed a hiring freeze. This means that many students have fewer full time instructors to deal with for future endeavors. State governments are not increasing funds to many state schools. I have yet to hear Mrs. Clinton mention this higher education issue besides making college debt less strident for students. This is all well and good, but to me it does not answer the abiding questions of why over 70 percent of instructors are part time employees. I am sure there is some sort of plan on her website, but it is not enough.
Speaking of young people, one caveat that has bothered me over the campaign is how young voters view Mrs. Clinton. They do not see a trendsetter; they see someone who settles for the status quo. I will never forget the Thursday after the New York primary when I saw the disgust and disillusionment of my students who were of all colors and genders. Many felt that the political process was “fixed” or “slanted” against them. One young woman who should be among Mrs. Clinton’s supporters literally stated “SHE’S A LIAR!” in my class (let me be clear, she is not a Trump supporter.) This made me even more depressed for the future of this country. If the presumptive nominee is considered a liar, then how is she going to inspire people of all ages that things can be done?
I also should be pleased that Mrs. Clinton has acknowledged families who have lost members to gun violence or brutality. Bringing the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner to her campaign to discuss what can be done about the violent situations in today’s climate is admirable, but it is not enough. There will be more shootings, more deaths, and more tears. There will still be mass shootings and police violence against victims, and there will still be the National Rifle Association to be a powerful force in American life.
And finally, there is the cynic in me who does not know who or what to believe anymore. I totally do not believe that a person of supposedly rational thinking and a successful businessman like Donald J. Trump would make such egregious statements against women and minorities as if he is practically giving the White House to Mrs. Clinton on a silver platter. The conspiracy theorist in me would believe the stories that Bill Clinton did tell Mr. Trump to run against the Republican brand just to get the Scott Walkers, the Jeb Bushes, and the Marco Rubios out of the race just to give his wife an easier path to the White House. I am just hoping that this is not the truth. However it sure looks like Trump, who has complimented Mrs. Clinton in the past, was working together with the Clintons to destroy the Republican establishment. I truly do not believe that Mr. Trump actually has fascist beliefs which would endanger his whole business infrastructure. Maybe I am naive about this, but then again maybe I am not.
I do not know what America will begin to resemble before the 2020 election when Mrs. Clinton decides she will run for a second term. I also believe that the Republicans are making contingency plans through the Koch brothers and other conservative backers to fund as many vulnerable candidates and incumbent Republicans on both the state and national level making Mrs. Clinton’s task even more difficult in terms of governing. In other words, more gridlock, less legislation. I should be used to this, but I have had enough. Although I was not completely on Sen. Sanders’s bandwagon, I sympathized with his cause even though he was a Don Quixote chasing at windmills. On November 9, I will be in the voting booth crying. But these tears will not be for joy. They will be in mourning for what this country has and will turn into after the “rejoicing” over the first woman President of the United States.
I ask of Kossites in here to bring me out of the doldrums I am writing (or rambling) about to say the least. I want to hear from Markos and others regarding this. Yes, the Supreme Court is important, but is it enough for me to take my medicine like a good little girl and everything will be all right?
I am waiting to hear from you.
