By Mike Voltaggio, Staff Writer
Election day 2024 has come to pass and Donald J. Trump has been elected as the 47th president of the United States of America by way of the electoral college vote.
Trump is a very polarizing figure in today’s society and one event has become synonymous and quite infamous in terms of his presidency, that event was on Jan. 6, 2020, at the end of Trump’s first presidential term.
Sophomore education major Daniel Desmond shared his thoughts on Jan. 6 and how he believes that many people have fabricated the story.
“I believe that it wasn’t right for the Republicans to storm the capital,” Desmond stated. “It is obviously not right for people to protest violently and vandalize such an important building that means so much to the United States of America, but I also do not agree with the people on the Democratic side or the left side of politics saying that Trump influenced the actions that took place on Jan. 6 and told those rioters to do what they were doing, when he [actually] told the protestors through a variety of tweets and videos to protest peacefully and voice their opinions but in a respectful and mature matter.”
Professor Michael Soupios, a political science professor at Long Island University shared his opinions on the event as well.
“When I first saw the spasm that was Jan. 6, I was in Santiago, Chile,” Professor Soupios said. “When I turned on the television and saw the events taking place at the Capitol Building I was incredulous, I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. As I learned more about what happened, It was very disappointing to make the connection between that event and the remarks by President Trump that tended to light the fuse for that explosion. The reason a lot of people have been saying that we need to be concerned about the welfare of the republic in light of Trump’s reelection relates back to Jan. 6. ”
Statistically speaking, today’s society is more divided than it has been in the past 30 years. With tools such as social media and the internet being so easily accessible, people are quite quick to voice their satisfactions as well as their dissatisfactions regarding the current political state of America.
Desmond shared his thoughts on the possibility of seeing more violent protests and riots in light of Trump’s reelection.
“I think when you look at the people who are taking part in those violent protests, 99.9 percent of the time they are extremists,” Desmond stated. “I don’t think extremists have any place within this country. I believe that they are more detrimental than productive, especially in a society where people are so quick to denounce anyone who doesn’t share a similar opinion to theirs. Unfortunately, the extremists and the rioters are the ones who get the most airtime and they are the ones who get publicized the most because it makes for good entertainment and good news.”
Professor Soupios shared a similar opinion towards the topic.
“Anything is possible,” Soupios stated. “I don’t think any political party has a monopoly on stupidity, there are lots of opportunities for people to do stupid, irrational, destructive things on both sides of the aisle. Is it possible that the pendulum will swing back aggressively in the opposite direction to counteract Trump and the M.A.G.A movement, it is possible. It is difficult for me to make sense of where the American people are coming from. It seems that a lot of people voted against their own self interest and basic logic and gave Trump the mandate that he has, so if that could happen, then I guess just about anything could happen.”
In light of the divisiveness, Desmond offered a possible solution to how the country can move forward together and more united.
“We have to try and find a median,” Desmond stated. “There has to be some policies that both parties agree on but the only way to get to that agreement is to sit down and talk to people and have discourse with people who don’t agree with you, regardless of how difficult that might be, it is the only way to see things from the other parties point of view and the media plays such an important role in this because these broadcasting networks put out fake news all the time. It happens on both sides of the aisle too. These broadcast networks fabricate lies and make up stories about the dissenting party to try and lift their own party up.”
Professor Soupios offered his advice as well.
“In terms of a meaningful correction of where we are right now, it has to do with negotiation, compromise, sitting down in good faith and working out common solutions to common problems,” Soupios voiced. “The problem is, of course, it is a very complicated environment right now and the spirit of compromise just doesn’t seem to be very prevalent, it is ‘all for me and none for thee’ if you will, no sharing, no negotiation.”
Now that Trump has done everything but be inaugurated into the White House for his second term, opinions are spreading like wildfire regarding how the state of the country will be in four years time.
Desmond shared his thoughts regarding this topic.
“I think the country will be a safer place with Trump being elected,” Desmond said. “Due to his foreign policy, ‘peace with an iron fist’ if you will, other countries were scared to do things that they would probably do with a different person in office. Trump was the first president in 40 years to have no new wars during his first term. He secured the southern border with policies like Remain In Mexico and put Americans first. The price of gas and groceries were at an all time low, the economy was booming, and buying a house was more affordable than ever.”
Professor Soupios offered his dissenting opinion.
“I think what you see this time around during the Trump presidency that you didn’t see in 2016, is a more systematic and more aggressive Donald Trump,” Soupios said. “In 2016 the presidency was brand new to him and he was still finding his way and there were checks in place, including staff members at The White House and other places, that were capable of reeling him in and pointing out to him that ‘this was a mistake’, or ‘don’t do this, don’t do that’. I don’t think those people are there anymore. Trump has surrounded himself by selection with people that have a loyalty oath, not talent, not background and experience. Psychologically I don’t think Trump is stable, some of the stuff he comes out with has disconnected logic and my rule of thumb is, when people have to tell you that they’re intelligent it means one thing, that they are not intelligent.”
In such a time of turmoil, it is easy for many first-time voters to feel a sense of anxiety and nervousness when placing their ballot.
Desmond, a first-time voter himself, shared his experience voting for the first time.
“Simply put, I was anxious about placing my ballot,” Desmond stated. “ I think this was one of the most important elections in U.S. history and I was nervous, not because I thought I made the wrong decision, but because I was nervous of what the future of this country might look like if the wrong person was elected.”
Professor Soupios, someone who has voted in multiple elections, shared his experience voting in the 2024 election and offered advice to younger voters as well.
“I didn’t have much anxiety,” Soupios stated. “I was pretty convinced based on political affiliations as to how I should vote. I didn’t stumble into the voting place and wonder ‘oh, how should I vote, what should I do’? As far as young people, it is perfectly natural to, as a first time voter, to be cautious, to be a little on the fence, it is a completely reasonable thing. What I would recommend to younger voters is to do their homework, research the policies, maybe go to a few rallies and that should relieve some of the anxiety, but when it comes time to register and to head to the polls, go out and do it, don’t stay home because you were ‘nervous’.
With the Biden administration coming to an end, only time will tell how the Trump administration will execute the powers of the Oval Office and what that holds for the future of America.
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