A look at the 2006 midterm elections and their possible effects on American politics.
The 2006 elections the Congress of the medium term are just around the corner. In many ways this election is crucial for both sides Democrats and Republicans. For over a decade the Republican Party has retained control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Although the cause of many problems that now face the country that may well change.
If Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, the majority of Americans agree the problems of this nation and the world face are serious and must be addressed. Unfortunately it seems that U.S. policy within the party and willingness to compromise has prevented any real progress.
In the House of Representatives the Democrats need to gain 15 seats to obtain a majority vote. Many pundents policy on both sides that this is the case and some say that the net gain will be much higher, though most qualify With Their opinion a healthy "anything can happen."
The Senate race is much tighter with the need for Dem 6 seats for a majority position. The results of the various races of the Senate seems to be much more difficult to predict. Opinion polls (which all politicians and news agencies rely on) vary from day to day whether the majority show that at least two Senate races are impossible to predict.
If the Democrats take control of Congress, what will change? It 's a good question but difficult to answer. Executive power is still a Republican and "divided government" as it is sometimes called has proved problematic in the past.
The American style of democracy is based on a system of checks and balances, with a conference that provides the supervisory role as one of its functions. Most if not all political analysts agree that Congress has been rather lax recently, in exercising that particular responsibility.
The war in Iraq, terrorism, immigration, social security and health care reform issues appear to be more Americans are concerned. Whether or not one or all of these issues are addressed and resolved after the mid terms remains an open question.
Recently, Republicans have had a difficult time responding to the various problems and scandals that have plagued them, with Rep. Tom Foley / page situation only add to the list. The base, or base of the Republican Party that includes evangelical conservatives have expressed serious concern over the direction of the party and is derived from the fundamental values of Republicans.
fiscal responsibility, smaller government and personal freedoms have been historically the main parts of the GOP platform. federal spending, the deficit and the federal government are now more than ever and growing, and many argue that personal freedoms are threatened in the war on terror.
The Democrats have not any easier. Unable to communicate a clear message and inability to provide a new direction for the country, the majority of Americans are forced to choose between two political parties apparently dysfunctional.
The possibility exists that after this election cycle both parties will seek to put aside their differences and tackle the big issues. If the Dem's do get a clear majority in both houses, then both sides will be forced to at least try to work together to do anything.
The President will have two years left in his second term and with the situation in Iraq is not resolved and near where most Americans feel the war was a mistake, it is likely that both parties will work towards a quick solution if imperfect.
A "divided government" situation, where a branch is controlled (eg the executive) on one side and another branch of government (Parliament) is controlled by the political front may have both positive and negative aspects.
Proper congressional oversight has a greater chance of being exercised and maintained and a higher percentage of the population in general have their concerns heard and addressed. Two political parties, with an equal share of power will leave a smaller minority are not represented (in theory).
The downside is the very real possibility that nothing is done. Both parties so entrenched and unwilling to move on an issue that, if the executive is presented with a bill to sign and has vetoed any proposal made in Congress have rejected a priori.
A sincere desire by both parties to work on challenging issues of the day will not only Their individual interests, but to serve the country as a whole, why they were elected in the first place.
The 2006 elections the Congress of the medium term can provide a new dynamic in Washington and a real opportunity to address some of the problems facing this nation. With the Middle East more volatile now than not, North Korea and Iran for nuclear weapons work, damaged America's reputation in the eyes of the world and the reality of particularly serious problems within the U.S., both Democrats and Republicans the nation would be better served by putting aside partisan politics and get to work on complex issues we now face.
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