As US Election Results Are Confirmed, America Must Embrace Reality Rather Than Ideology

The election of the Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden has been officially certified by the Electoral College electors from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

The final certification takes place in Congress on Jan. 6. Biden will then be inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Following the Electoral College’s vote, Biden said, “It’s time to turn the page, unite and heal.” I couldn’t agree more. Hopefully this is where the mudslinging from the Donald Trump camp about election fraud ends.

The strengthening of cooperation with America’s allies, Japan and Europe, to protect the international order from attempts by China and others to alter the status quo should be first on Biden’s to-do list.

“America is strongest when it works with its allies,” Biden said, stressing that “America is back, ready to lead the world.” In contrast to Trump, who led on an “America First” platform, Biden has put international cooperation at the forefront of his agenda, and his words in themselves are promising.

What is important here is not just cooperation itself, but rather how that combined energy can be used to deal with China and other countries.

Biden served as vice president for eight years as part of President Barack Obama’s administration. Obama set out a grand ideology, as represented by his vision of a nuclear-free world.

While this appealed greatly to the American conscience, it did not address the very real threats posed by China’s rise to prominence and North Korea’s nuclear armament.

The same pitfalls await Biden. It is important to say the right things, but he must also deal with actual issues head-on.

Biden emphasizes “unity over division.” While the division in American society is serious, it is rash to say that the responsibility for this lies solely with Trump, who still obstinately refuses to accept defeat.

Even before Trump’s rise to power, division had taken hold in the United States as a result of the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis. It should be noted that contrary to Obama’s repeated calls for “unity” prior to taking office, both Obama’s administration and Trump’s administration stood back and watched these divisions widen.

The lineup of Biden’s administration is notable first for its consideration of race and gender, and second for its inclusion of members from the previous Obama administration, such as Antony Blinken, whom Biden has nominated as the U.S. secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, nominated as national security advisor. I hope they will correct what needed changing in the previous administration and put their abilities to good use.