The Bend Bulletin conference room was abuzz with anxiety as the election played out on screen. Votes were counted, states were called and the live map was flooded with red. As a group of young women, students and journalists, a group of queer people and people of color, this election held particular weight with the interns gathered around our table. A second Donald Trump presidency will have devastating impacts on our lives, our careers and the rights we are afforded. A second Donald Trump presidency will alter our futures in this country, and we have plenty to say about it.
What if you didn’t have the opportunity to vote?
Waking up the morning after and seeing the results, along with the many reposts of people around the nation, I realized that many of the thoughts I was seeing were from teenagers unable to vote. Teens who wanted Harris to win were strongly opinionated about the loss and wrote things on social media about how they “lost their human rights” or “can’t believe that he won” and even went as far as telling people who voted for Trump to “go ahead and unfollow”. On the other hand, those who were leaning more Republican were thrilled by the new president’s election and posted things telling people to not let politics change their friendships.
The news and opinions were shared in schools, with people talking during lunch about their thoughts and what they think will happen now. Some argued that it would be over in four years and “it is what it is,” while others strongly disagreed and said that he will now have the power to change even more laws for the worse of the people. Many students have fears of how his election will affect them personally, along with women and those in the latino community. These teenagers don’t have the ability to vote yet, but it is important for the country that many of them care about the outcome and will vote when they have the chance.
Will Trump keep his campaign promises?
Throughout Trump’s campaigning, he has made multiple promises on what he’s going to do to “Make America Great Again.” The question now with him winning over 72,170,356 votes is, will he follow through?
Human rights are a key issue many people are concerned over after hearing news of Trump’s endorsement. The fear for what’s to come for women’s rights is specifically concerning all women of America. Trump has said he will not be banning abortion on a national level, as the overturn of Roe v. Wade is federal enough. Rather he is keeping it up to the state governments to decide their views on an abortion ban. Still, Trump also has not made clear whether, if the issue were to arise, if he would veto national abortion restrictions.
Along with women’s rights, many people are concerned for LGBT rights. The most concerning being that Trump has promised to end “boys in girls sports” and vice versa. Considering Kamala Harris was very supportive of LGBT rights, even promising to give transgender people in prison access to gender-affirming care, this switch in perspective is very prominent between the two.
Trump’s impact on the economy provokes immense fear, as well as excitement for citizens. He promises to make the economy the best it has ever been during these coming four years. Two of his most prominent points include his No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime Wages. This is especially appealing to those who work in the service industry because, without a tax on tips, the lower classes and middle/upper classes are able to establish savings that would have otherwise been spent on decent service. The idea of no tax on overtime wages is also appealing to those who take on extra hours or shifts to work are now able to take home whole funds rather than just a fraction.
The turnout for the past election has left many people unweary of the future of America, however, it’s clear that Trump’s policies are potent in theory, yet some pose drastically unrealistic given the length of his term.
What will become of women’s and reproductive rights?
When we heard about Trump’s win in the presidential election, it brought forth a grave realization that as women, we no longer have a say in our bodies and our future. This instilled a fear that greatly exceeded the fear from the overturn of Roe V. Wade in 2022. Now it is legally and physically dangerous to access abortion. Trump’s opinion and plans regarding reproductive rights are very much directive and leave little room for persuasion.
From a purely societal standpoint, there is worry as well, for we now know that sexism is still very prevalent, even with how far we’ve come. From picketing to unions to rallies in the streets, women have been fighting for years just to be treated and considered equal to men. It turns out that we still have a long way to go. Someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone’s sister; women are half of the population and still are treated as if they do not create the entire population.
We are not only women, we are women striving to make change within the community and beyond it. Our rightful purpose cannot happen if there is no passion behind our efforts, and it seems that no matter how much there is, we still cannot overthrow this supreme patriarchy. This was proven the night of Nov. 6, when we watched as the blue washed away like yet another temporarily bothersome occurrence. As journalists, we bring these situations to light for those unable to speak up and access what should be rightfully theirs.
Will Trump further damage religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
Despite the Bill of Rights’’ protection of freedom of religion, there are many examples of the ever-eroding wall between church and state. From the call of Oklahoma … Ryan Walters to mandate bible lessons in grades five through twelve to Trump’s recent advocacy for Christian nationalism, our supposed protections continue to falter.
As students whose religious affiliations drastically differ, we find that the separation of church and state is necessary for an education system without prejudice. To have a government promote one set of views over another would subjugate the freedom of young people.
How will Trump change the U.S. healthcare system?
Throughout Trump’s former presidency, he promised, and failed, to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) which makes health insurance more affordable to low-income households and holds health insurance companies accountable. Although Trump has pivoted from this stance, promising to replace the act instead of removing it, as said in posts on a Trump-owned social media site (Truth Social) and the presidential debate, his plans remain dangerously vague.
Additionally, Trump promised to appoint Ronald F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaccine advocate, in charge of health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As teens whose childhoods have been marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of reduced vaccine access, and resulting outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease, is terrifying.
Will Trump dumb down American education?
A second Trump administration will likely escalate scrutiny towards colleges and universities, empowering students and faculty to advocate for reform during a time of insecurity for American higher education. As student debt and tuition deter enrollment and the aftermath of negative coverage of campus protesters and international policies, Trump voices transformative implications toward the future of secondary education. Rather than improving education systems through gradual adaptation and revision, Trump established hostile policies concerning federal student financial aid.
According to Trump’s Republican Platform, the Republican Party will support the creation of “more affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year college degree” and pledges to prioritize affordability and “reduce” the cost of higher education. His agenda suggests the Department of Education (ED) work with Congress to amend the Home Equity Agreement (HEA) to eliminate negotiated rulemaking, and at a minimum, Congress allowing the ED to officiate public hearings over rulemaking negotiations. He aims to return to a financing where private lenders, backed by federal guarantees, would compete to offer student loans.
Yet this only tackles vague economic concerns and proposes unreliable patronage.
Trump also pledges to “deport pro-Hamas radicals” and increase college campus safety, making the majorly independent institutions “patriotic again.” To Trump, separation of church and state and the First Amendment are unpatriotic. He promises to cultivate “great” K-12 education leading to “great” jobs and “great” lives for young people. While he’s making America great again, the “great” young people will be moving to university out of Republican-dominant states and even out-of-country.
To high school seniors and even current college students, attending foreign schools thousands of miles away from friends and family is a far better option than remaining in the U.S. and distancing themselves from fundamental rights.
With Trump’s outlook on higher education, he won’t simply be deporting “illegal” immigrants, he’s deporting the future of America.
Will the trend of political violence continue?
Political violence is something that has devastated America before, although the 2024 election showed a new perspective on political violence.
The last assassination attempt in American history was 61 years ago when John F. Kennedy was killed. Typically, America has been associated with having little to no political violence within our borders. America has been a country based on democracy, freedom of speech and the pursuit of happiness.
This election has been an abnormality of uncertain proportions.
The first attempt on Trump’s life during this election cycle was attempted by a registered Republican at a rally for his campaign. There was also an attempt during his leisure time at a golf course. Considering that Trump is a very controversial man even among proud Republicans, this isn’t too surprising.
Not only that, but multiple ballot boxes have been destroyed this election season. Of course, ballot box concerns were already on concerned citizen’s radars amidst the hurricanes threatening the South. People’s doctor appointments had to be moved to different locations due to security fears with nearby ballot boxes. This concern is particularly Relevant around our area, as ballot box burnings only happened in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona.
Considering these legitimate fears, it makes sense that overall America is unsteady right now. Between America handling foreign affairs poorly, the economy being disarray for most Americans and the topic of rights coming into play, this will be a new chapter in America’s history. Only time will tell where this political turmoil will lead us in the future as a democracy.
Will political bias in local Central Oregon classrooms impede education?
While diversity is a key component in Madras’s success, the clashing opinions can be confusing for everyone. When recently finding out that President Trump won the election while living in a predominantly republican area and having to go to school, I knew that it would be tough. Some people will let their political views get in the way of not just theirs but others’ education, and my first day of school after the election proved just that.
As soon as school starts, one can hear a teacher ask their class if they saw who won the election. And in my next period, I overheard a white student stating “I don’t like Mexicans” in a group of Hispanic students. As they had been showing how the person they were talking to was pro-Trump and how they have been posting to vote for him. Just after the student had stated that an argument broke out and you can hear the teacher say just remember the last four years
After hearing controversial and harmful opinions in an educational space, it creates a sense of hostility that is concerning not just for local students but for those threatened across the country.
Our final statement
For many of us, the moment Kamala Harris lost the election was a moment of grief and unbridled terror. What will happen to our country? How will we continue moving forward with a president so determined to drag us back? When Trump takes office in January, the state of our society will change. Our First Amendment freedoms are at risk, as well as our rights to control our own bodies. For girls and women, journalists and members of many minority groups, the prospect of four years under Trump is unimaginable.
Whether or not we can imagine it, we will soon be forced to live it. However, we must not lose hope. There is always light, and if America has proved one thing throughout its history, it is that this country is capable of great change but also the conservation of democracy. And after all, the 22nd Amendment guarantees that Trump will be out of office before most of us are old enough to drink.
