American Interim Elections: “Change” Fever Vanishes

President Obama, highly esteemed the world over, is losing favor domestically. In the November congressional elections, the Democratic Party, currently in power, is on the defensive. How will they advance reform in light of economic pressure?

Princeton University is a famous college in the eastern part of the United States. Even though the employment rate for graduates of this university is high, students with job-hunting anxieties are not few. “Compared to two years ago, many swing voters will listen to me,” a student backing the opposition Republican Party said.

During the 2008 presidential election, a college newspaper survey showed that 80 percent of college students supported President Obama. With the Iraq War in a deadlock and the trust of the international community declining, the financial crisis attacked like a tsunami. There was a large feeling of loss. Then, the future seemed insecure.

Many citizens hung their hopes on Mr. Obama, who called out for change. Next month on the 2nd, all the congressional seats are up for re-election, and it is very likely the Democratic Party will lose seats. Even though the Democratic Party dominates the Senate three to one, the question is whether it will preserve a majority. It will continue to be a neck-to-neck rivalry.

Despite the massive fiscal stimulus, economic conditions are disappointing. With the high unemployment rate, the feeling of many citizens is that it seems unlikely that the Obama administration can make daily life better. Around inauguration, its approval rating was around 70 percent, and now it has fallen to about half that, around 40 percent.

In 2008, the war was a big issue. However, in a recent survey, 20 percent of citizens watching the Afghanistan war did not see an exit. On the other hand, the great concern over economic and unemployment problems has climbed to 60 percent. Inward-facing concerns have been rising.

Large economic problems with roots in the former Bush administration era are present. It is difficult for whomever is president to weather this recession. The health care insurance reform into which President Obama poured a ton of energy can be valued as a historical step forward. However, many of the middle class feel strongly that more effort should be put into unemployment and economic problems.

“Will the American dream die?” is what an unemployed 30-year-old man asked the president. In September, this was one act in a Washington dialogue assembly with a large range of different people. Criticism of President Obama has become an outlet for anxiety and dissatisfaction, and the Democratic Party is struggling with a close game.

In such times, support for the anti-Obama, conservative, citizen-based “tea party” campaign has been spreading. It calls for tax reductions by means of “small government” and destroying the medical insurance reform. To the tea party, the 1950s era American ideal is on the horizon. At that time, the U.S. had overwhelming power in the world, and internally, white society ran the U.S. In addition, there was no fear of 9/11-style terrorism.

However, the world is changing. China and India have been putting great pressure on the U.S. It is hard to believe there will be a return to the golden era of the 1950s. With the overly optimistic tea party’s strength increasing in political debates, it does not appear that the outlook is good.

The interim elections are for Congress, not the president. Nevertheless, how will President Obama regain his strength from this stagnation, with a sharp eye on his re-election? I want to maintain a close watch over the remaining ten days.