As 2015 went by with its unofficial start to the campaign season 2016 has proven that in some respects time does heal some wounds. The republican field has gone down from 17 people to 12, and the democratic party has split in half from six people running to three. 2015 was the year, as has been discussed, of the political outsider.
2016 is the year of the silent majority. The people who, for years, have seen politicians come and go but refuse to pay attention to the election that CNN and other major media outlets spend hours a day discussing. No, this year for the first time no matter what side you are on, the eligibility to vote and our responsibility as Americans to vote seems to finally be in use. The reason for this sudden change in American apathy to politics is obviously due to how controversial our current candidates are, but there is so much more to this year than meets the eye.
The person who is elected president this year has so much more leverage over what the American people will experience for the next four years. Issues like Obamacare, the Middle East, trade, and keeping or overturning executive actions established by the Obama presidency are all on the line. It is really amazing how much change can occur once this year is over.
The most interesting part of this year is the emphasis on places like Iowa and New Hampshire; states only important seemingly to the media around primary times and during the general election. These states have their own issues heard by the candidates. The heroin epidemic in New Hampshire or the economic disasters for places like Iowa losing jobs to overseas manufacturers are a few examples. There are so many more domestic issues that come up only when watching the candidates on the campaign trail as the people of these states discuss the real problems they are having day to day in their lives.
The real question then is why all dates are not paid the same respect. The answer is simple-- the electoral college. But other than that cop-out type answer to the question it is unfortunate that every state does not get the same time and attention as Iowa and New Hampshire do.
Nevertheless, 2016 looks tone a very interesting and revealing political year as we will see who is elected our next President of the United States.
