A Democratic-controlled Congress will provide oversight to an otherwise unsupervised executive branch.

With the Democrats now in control of the U.S. Congress, many now wonder: what next? One talking point common for conservatives prior to the election was that, once in power, the Democrats will offer us nothing, and if they do plan on offering us anything, it will be higher taxes.

That is, in fact, untrue: tax plans by the Democrats (if they’re smart) would only affect the wealthiest of Americans. Indeed, as part of John Kerry’s presidential campaign, he offered to keep Bush’s tax cuts in place for Americans making less than $200,000 a year. As for other ideas, the Democrats offer many.

One Democratic policy that is popular among most Americans would be reducing the cost and burden of health care. Around 45 million Americans are without health care in our nation. We also have the highest infant mortality rate among all industrialized, democratic countries. This is unacceptable. It behooves the newly elected Democratic Congress to do something about this, and it has long been part of the Democratic platform to fix the health care crisis in America.

Reproductive rights for Americans have also been a cornerstone of Democratic policy that many Americans share with the party.

In last week’s election, the “red” state of South Dakota defeated a referendum that would have outlawed all forms of abortion. This is monumental: it shows that even a normally Republican-controlled state respects the right of women to choose in this country. While not a proponent of “abortions-on-demand,” the Democratic Party, like mainstream America, respects the rights of both privacy and choice for women regarding their reproductive rights.

A third issue that Americans — and Democrats — overwhelmingly support is stem cell research. This research could potentially cure uncountable diseases and ailments. However, Republicans like to tell you that the potential for life would be destroyed if we fund such research. The truth? The potential for life destroyed is the same as the potential for life destroyed by tossing out unused by-products used for artificial insemination.

But one thing you don’t have to worry about the Democrats being is being soft on terrorism. I’ve heard several times on the blogosphere in the past weeks that a vote for the Democrats would leave us unsafe in regards to terror. I cannot comprehend how someone would think that.

It was Bush and the Republicans who did nothing after the attack on the USS Cole. Though the attack occurred under Clinton’s watch, it was not confirmed by the CIA or FBI to be bin Laden and al Qaeda until later. Before Clinton could do anything about it; transition was on its way.

Nine months following the attack on the Cole, Sept. 11, the largest attack on American soil by a foreign presence, took place. I’m not saying that these attacks were Bush’s fault. I’m merely pointing out the hypocrisy the Republicans like to employ by stating that the Democrats are the ones who are soft on terror.

Finally, a Democratic-controlled Congress will provide oversight to an otherwise unsupervised executive branch. With the Democrats controlling the legislative branch, Bush can no longer pass initiatives and acts, such as the Military Commissions Act, that severely limit our constitutional liberties and freedoms. Spying on Americans through wiretapping and the National Security Agency will no longer be tolerated; Democrats will demand that they either be notified and consent to such wiretapping of American citizens, or to reinstate the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) courts to ensure proper warrants are obtained.

We need not worry about a Democratic Congress; they will provide oversight and ensure that American values will be represented. We need to put our faith in this Congress and believe that they are out to benefit the people they represent.

We must also put ample pressure on Congress to present our stances on issues. Most of all, we must trust that the policies the Democrats put forth will best represent American principles, and that America is not doomed by a change in power.

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