Bauer Weighs in on America’s Political Shift

For President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, the midterm election results delivered a major political setback. Democrats swept control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, shifting the balance of power in Washington and renewing debate about the issues driving American voters. But U.S. Ambassador to Belize Andre Bauer says the results tell a broader story about democracy at work. We sat down with Bauer to discuss what the Democratic victory means for the direction of the United States and what it reveals about the strength of its political system.

 

Andre Bauer, US Ambassador

“While the US government has flawed systems in how we handle our business and how we elect leaders, it’s still one of the best systems in the world. And the system was set up by our forefathers that if you elect a group of individuals, and you feel like they didn’t represent what you expected out of government, every two years you have a chance to have your voice heard. And while my party may not have fared like I would like them to, I still feel that our system is healthy, and it’s what democracy is about, and it reinvigorates freedom in a society where people’s voices can be heard. And so, hopefully that will make them address the immediate needs of the American people, because I think part of the message was they continued to see things that they wanted to see immediately. And, and here’s the problem, the, the balance. A lot of times as a leader you gotta do things that people don’t immediately feel or see because it’s a bigger picture. But a lot of times people vote with how they feel right then. It’s what I call a bumper sticker solution. And so there’s a balance. You’ve gotta do enough to lead your country, because you gotta make decisions for years on down the road. But a lot of folks, they feel pain right now. They think their gas maybe is too high, or they think inflation’s too high. And so even though you may be doing something their grandchildren will benefit from, right now they’re too focused on what, and rightfully so, about how they keep food on the table. And so I understand that. And so as politicians, you gotta find a balance in there.”

 

Bauer said that leaders must balance long-term goals with the immediate concerns of voters, warning that governments that fail to address people’s day-to-day struggles risk losing the public support needed to achieve their broader vision.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: