Election Results and What Follows

Although the results of some races won't be known for awhile, overall it appears to me (as a Libertarian) that the overall result was that nothing changed. America is as divided as ever. The Republicans won a few races and lost a few others. Same for the Democrats.

Republicans:

This continuing stalemate would favor the Republicans in 2024 if they play their cards right. It is well known that most voters vote their wallets. The Democrats are now so welded at the hip to the global warming panic position that it seems they don't care how many old people freeze this winter, how bad the economy gets without diesel or heating oil, whether the poor starve, or anything else much except cutting CO2. The Republicans need to offer creative solutions (making sure they won't be adopted before 2024), but otherwise step back and let the Democrats own the disaster and hang themselves. They also need to take a different position than the Dems on the incessant wars we keep getting involved in. The less visible the Republicans are, the better. If people notice them, it should be as voices of reason, displaying quiet competence. Diplomatic types. In the meantime they need to get a really good Presidential candidate for 2024. And somehow get Donald Trump out of the limelight before he splits the vote and gives the Democrats an easy win. Trump is their biggest potential liability going into 2024.

Democrats:

As the party in power, the Democrats seem to have managed to hang onto the Senate but lost the House, which makes it harder to accomplish anything. Rule by Executive Order ("Imperial Decree") is a lot more of a threat to Democracy than Donald Trump. Their President's rapidly deteriorating mental state is becoming more and more obvious. They need a better plan to deal with that until 2024. Their best hope is to try to forge some bipartisan alliances in support of things most Americans want, like improved healthcare, which will make the other Republicans look bad if they block them. They need to try to show some concern for the working stiffs even if it hinders reaching their CO2 goals. And they need to break with the extremists (not so affectionately) known as the "looney left". They will get most of their votes anyway - where else are they going to go? The Dems are too arrogant to pick up much support in the country, but can restore their support in the suburbs, especially if they begin to appeal to women. Get tougher on violent crime, support families, forget about appealing to youth while alienating older folks in the process - as there are less of them every year due to the "baby bust". Most don't vote anyway. And Democrats, like Republicans, need to look for a better, younger Presidential candidate in 2024.

Both parties need to agree on starting to build up reserves to get America through natural disasters and wars. We should have learned from the last few years not to be dependent on long, fragile supply chains. Power and Responsibility need to be devolved to State and Local Governments, private organizations, and individual Americans. We need to solve our problems at home, not get involved in other countries' affairs.

Ted Rice, November 2022