Mid-terms.
Well, let’s see. There is the “middle of the road.” There is “stuck in the middle,” and there is “middle of nowhere.” There is “middle ground” and “playing both ends against the middle.” At times, these phrases adequately describe the status of modern-day politicians.
For decades the word “middle” has been used in the political arena. As the year 2022 advances, one will hear it used frequently in reference to the congressional elections that are held between presidential elections, thus the usage as “mid-terms.”
The history of federal elections since 1857 shows the government has been unified 47 times. Unification means a political party had controlling majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as control of the White House. In that same time frame the government was unified 22 times by the Democratic party and 25 times by the Republican party. (source: History, Art & Archives, House of Representatives) It is this unification that political parties seek. Therefore, a huge campaign effort is put forth to either maintain unification or to achieve it in the mid-term elections.
At the state level this “unification” is slightly different and referred to as a Trifecta. This occurs when a political party has control of the governorship, the attorney general, secretary of state and both chambers of the state legislature.
I find the politics of both major political parties for the upcoming 2022 mid-term elections interesting to say the least. The Party leaders, local, state and federal, are altering/changing their political rhetoric to be in line with a public back-lash that is emerging across the country. A back-lash regarding the teaching of Critical Race Theory in public schools, a back-lash of mask mandates, and a back-lash on defunding the police in local communities.
Cases in point:
The Texas state legislature has passed House Bill #3979 banning CRT from the classrooms. This is in response to influences from woke culture advocates.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced, due to parent outcries, reductions in Covid restrictions in public schools that will take effect on March 19. He is not the only governor to reduce Covid restrictions, Delaware and New Jersey are lifting restrictions as well. These actions will probably be explained as a result of the number of Covid cases having dropped and has nothing to do with mid-term elections just eight months away.
US truckers are protesting Covid restrictions and mandates. The Great American Patriot Project (a PAC) is urging American truckers to join protest convoys in March of this year as they leave California and Ohio and drive to the nation’s capital.
The city council of Seattle, Washington. is currently scrambling to refund its police department due to an increase in the crime rate. Over 200 police officers have resigned their jobs in that city from January of 2021 to YTD in 2022 due to lack of support from elected officials. The Council is offering as an incentive to fill these vacancies, $15,000 to officers who transfer from other departments and $7,500 for new hires. I think this action can be considered as funding the police.
Folks, my point is; will this political response to the public back-lash be permanent, or will it be temporary, lasting only until the outcome of the next mid-terms?
