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24 The Virgin Islands Daily News
OPINIONS
Friday, November 9, 2012

The Virgin Islands Daily News
Founded Aug. 1, 1930, by J. Antonio Jarvis and Ariel Melchior Sr.
Published by Daily News Publishing Co.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jason Robbins, Publisher
Kevin Downey, Advertising Director
Onneka Challenger, Circulation Director
J. Lowe Davis, Executive Editor
Ken E. Ryan, Production Director
Maurice Jackson, Billing & Collections Manager

-EDITORIAL OBSERVER-
An invigorated second term
From The New York Times:
Early Wednesday morning, as sleep-deprived supporters rallied for a final cheer, President Barack Obama concluded his re-election campaign with a promising glimpse at what the fight was all about: a second-term agenda that can make real progress on issues neglected in the first.
Without question, the president intends to build on and improve the significant accomplishments of the last four years, particularly the full implementation of health care reform and the use of government policy to keep the economy growing. But the president went beyond that in his victory speech and added some less familiar words to his policy vocabulary.
Children should live in a world that is not burdened by debt or weakened by inequality, he said, but also one "that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet." That suggests he knows he has an opportunity to address climate change with more vigor, going beyond auto-mileage standards and renewable-energy jobs to possibly advocating tougher carbon emissions standards.
The president also said he was looking forward to working with Republicans to fix the immigration system, giving him a chance to do more than promote the DREAM Act for young immigrants. He could lead the way to comprehensive reform that combines strong enforcement with a path to citizenship for immigrants already here. He also hinted that combating poverty might move higher on his priority list.
And he spoke of tax reform, an issue that will immediately begin to grow louder with the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts at year's end. Obama won re-election on an unambiguous promise not to renew those cuts for incomes of $250,000 or more, and his supporters expect him to stick to that vow. In coming months, after he persuades Congress to keep taxes from rising on the middle class, he should push to restore a fair estate tax and raise the low capital gains rate to the level of ordinary income.
He even mentioned the need to fix a balloting system that left thousands of people standing in long lines to vote this week, a tantalizing hint that electoral reform might become a priority.
All these agenda items require the same ingredient: ending his standoffish attitude toward Congress and working closely with any leader or lawmaker willing to make real progress. That may be easier now that Senate Democrats (and their independent allies) have expanded their majority by two seats to 55, many of them filled with newcomers more liberal and feisty than their predecessors, most notably Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
The new Democratic caucus' first order of business should be a reform of the filibuster that prevents its routine abuse by Republicans, and the majority leader, Harry Reid, suggested Wednesday that he supported some modest changes. The newcomers, along with the White House, should forcefully advocate that he go as far as possible.
Anewly energized Obama administration and Senate could have the effect of isolating the supply-side dead-enders in the House. John Boehner, the House speaker, announced Wednesday that nothing had changed; he and his caucus still oppose higher tax rates for the rich and still want to pursue Romney's defeated goal of raising revenue by lowering rates and cutting unspecified loopholes. Standing up to Republican recalcitrance on this and many other issues will require bringing to bear political pressure from the coalition that gave Obama a commanding victory in the Electoral College on Tuesday.
The president's victory was decisive, and many who didn't support him nonetheless told pollsters that they agreed with his positions on taxes, health care and immigration. He now needs to use the power that voters have given to him to enhance and broaden his agenda.

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U.S. politics changes for the better
by Mariel Blake
America has changed.
There are periods when we grow as a society in degrees. Then there are times when we take great leaps forward. If you examine the history of our country back to the days of the first Spanish, English and French immigrants, you will see certain moments when our national dynamic shifted.
This week, we saw a moment when the America that has been growing and changing by degrees met with a moment when America made a hard turn on its path.
For years we have seen the browning of America. For years we have seen the tolerance and acceptance level of different religions, economic conditions, sexual orientations, political beliefs and ancestries grow in measured steps through the increase in one-on-one interactions and social media.
For years we have seen the steady progress of women, and felt a subtle shift in the rhythm of America.
This week, we saw several of these trends converge in a moment when it became evident that once again, America has changed.
The demographics of the exit polls tell an interesting story. President Obama's support came overwhelmingly from groups of people who are often described as disenfranchised:
• Those who make less than $50,000 per year;
• Those with some or no college education;
• Women;
• Young people;
• People of color.
These groups, who in the past have felt like their votes were taken for granted, for the first time in a long time, saw their votes carry weight that makes them get noticed.
People more "wonky" than me will be going over these numbers for months to come. These numbers tell me, though, that the reason why so many people were surprised about the outcome in this race ignored the numbers that had nothing to do with polls.
They want to say that it is because these communities were voting to keep their entitlements and "handouts," but that is just a denial of the real truth.
What people want is to no longer feel disenfranchised and marginalized.
What people want is for their voices to be included, not shouted down.
Recent data shows that women now outnumber men by a slim margin. More people live in cities. People of color now make up almost a third of the population. The average age is 37. Almost two thirds of us own homes, but there are more of us who have either never been married or are divorced than there are those of us who are married.
The fastest shrinking demographic is white men.
So many of the people who fit the demographics that elected President Obama are those in demographics that are seeing their numbers grow and also are becoming more politically active and savvy. They are truly looking to connect with candidates who have their concerns in mind. These are not one-issue voters.
They care about the economy but they also care about their place in our society. They want their social issues to be a part of the discussion. Our national identity is more about inclusion than assimilation. This is a vast switch from where we have been.
Those of us in groups that have been considered on the fringe or in the minority have found solidarity in our experiences in this country and are increasingly deciding we are no longer satisfied with trying to fit in and would rather have a seat at the table as our unique selves.
Women, the LGBT community and Latinos made great strides with this election. African Americans and young people reminded the political parties of the value of their support.
There is a lot of finger pointing from the Republican talking heads as to why their candidate lost. It seems they are slowly coming to realize it was not only whom they ran as candidates but also where those candidates stood on issues that are important to this growing voting power block.
I was struck by how few people of color were in the crowds for Mitt Romney toward the end of the campaign. It was like they no longer cared about even the illusion of inclusion, and instead decided to bank their future on their main demographic. What their campaign failed to take into consideration is that the issues that matter most to people right now stretch across racial and gender lines.
Those of us usually considered on the fringe are multifaceted and have learned a very powerful lesson after this election. When we band together to get our issues on the agenda, we force the conversation to change.
Hopefully, both parties have learned that you don't have to pander to us, but you do have to listen to us because we are not going away.
America has changed, and if history is any indication that is a very good thing.
Let's just hope we embrace the change in the spirit of cooperation and not segregation.
— Contact Daily News contributing columnist Mariel Blake at marielfblake@gmail.com.

[Political Cartoon]
FOUR MORE YEARS...
...OF THIS!
[Caricature of Barack Obama waving]
[Crowd shouting]
SOCIALIST!
KENYAN!
GODLESS MUSLIM!
WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?
ROB ROGERS ©2012 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

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