Election Day for our neighbours down south is fast approaching. On 7 November, 2014, control of the legislative branch of the United States Government will be decided at voting booths across America. The Republican Party, politically aligned with our Conservative Party, is predicted to gain control over Congress.
You may be thinking: “Why would I care about this? I live in Canada!” But let us take a closer look at the complex politics involved.
Congress has been deadlocked for the past four years, with the Republican Party holding firm control over the House of Representatives, and the Democratic Party edging out a slight majority in the Senate. Congress is now a petty fistfight between the two parties. In fact, the last major bill, and primary election issue, is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, otherwise known as Obamacare.
We Canadians enjoy our universal healthcare, but the majority of us are completely unaware of the subtle costs of our medical services. We pay high taxes on just about everything, especially in comparison to many other nations. We have waiting lists that are far too long.
Obamacare serves a similar but not all-encompassing purpose in the US. It created a great divide among the American public by cancelling more existing insurance policies than it provided, making health insurance mandatory by setting a tax on non-compliance, and dissuading businesses and development by imposing compulsory employer insurance [1].
In practical terms, this means the average American will get his private insurance taken away, be forced to pay for a public plan (or get fined), and suffer under the failed bureaucracy known as the Obama Administration. As you can imagine, there are not too many happy American campers.
Many complaints have revolved around President Obama himself. He has willfully lied about the Benghazi attack, in which the US Ambassador to Libya and his security personnel were attacked and murdered by Islamic extremists [2]. During sequestration, the Department of Defense was forced to cut billions from its spending, while Obama sent hundreds of millions to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group in Egypt [3]. Obama selectively enforces laws, suing states for implementing laws he doesn’t approve of [4], and ignoring immigration laws by not prosecuting illegal immigrants [5]. Obama released five high level Taliban prisoners in exchange for one American deserter [6]. Many of these infractions can be considered impeachable [7].
Due to all of this, the Democratic ship will most likely sink in November. The Republicans need only six seats to gain a majority, and fifteen for a bulletproof majority, something that can easily happen when Democratic senators lose elections in Republican states. But what does a Republican Congress mean for Canada?
Our economy will receive a boost, as the business friendly Republicans seek to further develop natural resources, agriculture, approve the Keystone XL Pipeline [8], and reduce Federal bureaucracy. All of which increase cross-border economic activity.
The reversal of defense budget cuts will lead to a more effective, strong, and respected US military. We do need some protection if the Russian Bears come knocking [9].
The repeal of Obamacare will serve as a wake-up call for our own healthcare reform. Who wants to wait in line for two-and-a-half years and then die before getting treatment [10]?
In the end, a Republican victory in the November elections will be a symbol of change, from an ass to an elephant. A change that will renew America, and the world.
Op-eds are opinion articles that reflect the views of the author, but not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of The Reckoner as a whole. Please note this important distinction when reading this article.
@ Guest there is a difference between supporting Obama overall, and supporting him on every possible issue.
Finally an opinion: you support Obama overall. You should seriously consider becoming a politician. It took you five comments to share your views (somewhat). But that’s good. Everyone’s entitled to a political opinion.
Side note: This is probably the most commented article on the Reckoner website.
Putin might be hard to understand, but by no means stupid. America and Canada do not need to strengthen their military in fear of the potential of “the Russian Bear” coming knocking.
Remember from the 2012 election’s presidential debate when Obama criticized Romney for stating that Russia is America’s number one geopolitical foe? Two years later Edward Snowden is seeking asylum in Russia and Russia has annexed Crimea and is supporting pro-Russian rebels in the Ukraine.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/05/mitt-romney-was-right-russia-is-our-biggest-geopolitical-foe/275632/
But your right when you state that Russia will probably not attack the US or Canada. Putin is a smart guy.
From the first article you posted:
“The fact of the matter is the SCAF, which is the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, still controls the government and controls the executive branch and is manipulating things in such a way that it’s making it difficult for the Islamists to exert their full power as the majority in parliament.
So the major struggle going on in Egyptian politics right now is that the SCAF, controlled by elite military officers, is not willing to relinquish power”
This clearly shows that the military are currently in power in Egypt. It’s any not better that Obama is supporting a military-run government than the Muslim Brotherhood. The author may have made an error, but Obama’s foreign aid to Egypt still should not be defended. Maybe you should have read your article more carefully with more consideration before posting.
Regarding the second article you posted, I do not support everything done by members of the Republican party. No one should blindly defend their side no matter what they do.
“No one should blindly defend their side no matter what they do.”
I never said that Obama did the right thing. I was merely pointing out the error in the article. The idea that I was defending Obama is entirely your own invention.
@Democrat
One can do nothing, but look at your username to determine your political opinion.
Since when did being a democrat imply supporting Obama regardless? There are plenty of democrats running in these very midterm elections who are doing the best they can to distance themselves from the President.
So are you suggesting that you don’t support Obama?
http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2012/apr/27/barry-hinckley/us-senate-candidate-barry-hinckley-says-obama-admi/
According to that article Obama didn’t give 1.5 billion to the Muslim Brotherhood (the largest party in Egyptian government). He gave it to a military dictatorship. Good job Obama!
“Democrat” here’s a tip: next time you try to defend Obama, use a very Democratically-biased article that will blame the Republicans instead. The article you chose defended Obama pretty badly.
Firstly, the page refutes the claim made in the article that Obama gave 1.5 billion to the Muslim Brotherhood. That was the purpose of my linking to it. Seeing as you had no response to that, my original intention still stands.
Secondly, Republicans and Democrats alike agreed to continue aid to Egypt.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/07/31/republicans_stiff_arm_rand_side_with_dems_on_egypt_aid