THE United States elected a new president in the person of the former vice president, Joe Biden. As of last night, reports from the media outlets in the US, counting is still ongoing on the remaining outstanding votes mostly from the mailed-in ballots. Biden already sealed the 279 electoral votes as against 214 of Trump.
On the other side, the president, Donald Trump, kept denying the legitimacy of the election processes accusing fraud, particularly in the battleground states where he had previously made advancements.
Trump made early declaration of victory and said that he is winning until some mighty hands operated and change the course of momentum to favor his opponent.
There is modification in the manner of voting for Americans because of this pandemic. The voters can either go to the voting centers or thru the mailed-in ballots.
It is clear that those who showed up at the voting centers were for Trump while those who voted through mail voted for Biden. The voters agree with the stand of the two candidates in relation with the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump is telling voters there’s nothing to worry about the coronavirus, while Biden wants to follow government health protocols and better to vote through mail.
I observed that Trump seemed to have lost his popularity based on the votes he received on big states which is in contrast when he defeated Hillary Clinton four years ago. He had lost the big states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, which flipped to Biden and ensured the victory for the Democratic candidate. In 2016, these states are actually for Trump although long before they are identified as blue states.
There is an addition of Arizona and Georgia which for many years remained a Republican stronghold, but now tilted on Biden.
Observers could learn from this political exercise. Reasons to decide on the leadership had become important in these times where style of leadership and approach in facing the pandemic are important factors.
The Philippines could look at the positive implication of what is happening in the US. In part we are affected by the policy choices of the leadership of the most powerful country in the world.
We should also be reminded that in the coming days we will also make our preparations for the elections in 2022.
In reflection, it reminds us that the language of political rationality stays the same whether it is in the US or Philippines. The people knew the boundaries that define good or bad behavior even in politics.
Second, it is dangerous to give governance to inexperienced individuals. It is simply courting problems for those being governed. This is what happened in the US when Trump, who had no previous experience in government became the leader of the world’s superpower. Yet, it highlights the level where Americans knew what is admirable and what is not.
Lastly, those in power should be reminded that they don’t stay in power forever. Time will come that they will have to give up their office as it ends or the people wants to change the leadership.
As we look forward in the coming 2022 elections, we can start evaluating who among our leaders need to be given another mandate and who will take a rest.