Now that everything is official in the 2006 Election, we can start to speculate on what might become of the U.S. over the next two years. I am usually a very optimistic person, but these midterm elections have me scared. On a nationwide level, Democrats are finally in control. What this means is that the Bush taxcuts will be scrapped, Bush will most likely be impeached, and mainstream America will not be heard.
The taxcuts that have helped stimulate the economy into one of its strongest in decades most likely will not be renewed. I’m not an economist, but if the cuts had such a positive effect, being without them could mean disaster. On a personal level, I don’t look forward to paying more taxes when I already have enough expenses and just enough money to get by as it is.
If Bush is impeached, we will be paying for it. Instead of balancing the budget as Democrats promise to do, we will spend billions of dollars on something that will not get Bush out of office, but will fail and end up just being a black eye on our nation.
I fear that mainstream America will not be heard by far-left Democrats like Nancy Pelosi. I fear that changes like a higher minimum wage, gay marriage, and even more abortion rights will divide this country even more.
I personally don’t care about gay marriage, because I don’t think the government should decide on the issue. Marriage is a religious institution and nothing more. I believe all companionships should be civil unions, not marriages, in which case, homosexuals should receive all the benefits that modern marriage has to offer.
My stance on abortion is that women already had the choice when they decided to participate in sexual intercourse. The only time abortion should even be considered is in cases of rape, incest, and the life or death of the mother.
Ohio is also going to see some changes, a lot of which will happen much sooner than 2008. The state minimum wage has been raised to $6.85 from $5.15. For those trying to get by on a job with minimum wage, this is a good thing. However, most of those jobs are not designed for people trying to raise a family.
The increase will most likely force companies to cut jobs in order to keep their current profit lines. So, instead of what the increase was designed to accomplish, it could possibly do the opposite, which is lead to a higher unemployment rate. The current Ohio unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is 0.9% higher than the national average already, so this looks like it will hurt more than it will do good.
The other big change in Ohio is that we will no longer be able to smoke pretty much anywhere in or around enclosed areas. I voted against this proposal because, even though I don’t smoke, I’d like to have the option. I understand that the law was made to protect others from second-hand smoke, but people already had the option to begin with. If you don’t like smoky environments, don’t be around them. No one is forcing you to go into a bar or restaurant.
If you are an employee, then you already most likely knew of the environment before you applied and you made the choice to work there. I don’t think that the state should have decided what I can and cannot do.
I, however, will not make the comparison to prohibition. Even though the two are similar, they are quite different. Someone drinking beer next to you will not hurt you in anyway, while someone smoking next to you may. That’s why it’s a dead argument when people compare the two.
I’m also unpleased with how far the law goes. Many bars had already designed patios and other outside places for people to get away from the smoky environment, but now those attempts are futile. The new law states that if there’s any chance for smoke to get inside an establishment, no one can smoke there. This means that you can’t even smoke on the sidewalk in front of a bar, let alone on a deck or patio. This seems pretty unfair to me, and I think Cincinnati will see repercussions of this.
Toledo already had a no smoking ordinance and many businesses saw patronage go over state lines into Michigan. I’m afraid that the same will happen here, only into Kentucky and Indiana. If it’s happened before, it can definitely happen again.
Hopefully the next two years are not full of gloom and doom, but only time will tell. Just remember, that if you don’t like it, go out and vote in 2008. I’ll see you at the ballot box, the same place I’ve been since I turned 18.