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1. Drilling in the Arctic Nat'l Wildlife Refuge (a Repub senator has already announced they now have the votes to get that passed, since they picked up seats).
I'm not concerned about the environmental ramifications of that; I do think the oil companies have gotten better at minimising the impact of drilling.
My concern is increasing supply, rather than trying to curb frivolous demand. We don't need to open up ANWR until people stop commuting to work alone in Hummers and Ford F-350s. I think we need to change our attitudes about the availability of cheap oil first.
2. Roe v. Wade will be overturned.
I think the conservatives will make attempts to erode it quietly, but will stop short of overturning it. They'll make noise about overturning it to appeal to their base, but they don't want the massive liberal mobilisation that would result from outright overturning RvW.
3. The religious right beliefs will start to permeate every facet of our lives, as the three conservative S. Ct. Justices start to inject their belief system into legal cases.
I am concerned about that. But I think Democrats still have enough clout to obstruct judicial appointments, and as long as they use it to block partisan judges, but allow any moderates that Bush may appoint, I'll support it.
4. Gay marriage will be banned by constitutional amendment, and possibly civil unions, as well.
The 11 state CA banning gay marriage will likely embolden them. But I think Bush proposed it as a wedge issue.
5. Deficit will continue to increase (a still even bigger chunk of my retirement funds will go to pay the increased taxes to pay off that deficit in the future)
That's a concern I share. Some deficit is not bad, but i think we've clearly crossed the line into what is harmful.
6. The Soc. Sec. System, as we know it, will cease to exist.
SS as it currently exists will need to change or die at some point. There's just not enough working base to support the retirees. The age at which full benefits are paid needs to increase, for a start.
7. More and more war and alienated foreign leaders, as Bush continues to browbeat more and more middle eastern countries, and continue to fail at diplomacy.
I'd like to believe that even Bush recognises that we are stretched to our limits now. Barring another major attack on US soil, implementing a draft would be suicide for the party that does it. I think he'll concentrate on Iraq and Afghanistan.
8. The environment (air, water, nature areas, trees) will continue to get worse and worse.
Another concern i share.
9. More jobs will be outsourced, since the Bush government actually wants to encourage that and sees it as a good thing.
The one thing we need to do differently is make more funds available to retrain workers in fields with a high risk of outsourcing, and not wait until they lose their jobs to make the training available. They need the means to be proactive.
10. More illegal aliens will be allowed in, since they are a cheap labor source.
I have conflicting feelings about this. It happens now, and will continue to happen. I think a law that recognizes this, and upsets the status quo as little as possible, except to make it clear to guest-workers that they have full legal protections against unscupulous employers, is necessary. Exempt them from mimimum wage, SS, make their rights known to them, and free up INS for border enforcement against true undesirables.
11. Tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% will be made permanent.
Congress giveth, and congress taketh away. They're only permanent until another congress decides to raise taxes again, whenever that may be.
This is so upsetting. I guess I will take my little tax cut and increased contribution limits to my retirement plans and hide in a cave for four years. I can't bear to watch.
I think we should all take a close look at what happened this election, and try to figure out what America is trying to say, regroup, and work hard for 2006. Stay optimistic.
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