Even as Democrat leader and former US Vice President Joe Biden trounced his Republican counterpart Donald Trump, the incumbent President, by winning 284 electoral votes as against Trump’s 214, reactions poured in from Odia community living in US regarding the future course of action to be followed by Biden-Harris Administration. Trump has drawn flak for the alleged ‘inept’ handling of Covid-19. The total cases in US reached 9.61 million and fatalities have touched a whopping 2,34,944. Arindam Ganguly of Orissa POST talks to the overseas Odias from different parts of USA and asked them about their expectations from Biden administration and what they think of Trump’s tenure as presidency……
Bhubaneswar: Many Odias in the US feel that the Joe Biden administration would bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control while others decried the electoral system dubbing it ‘outdated’ and at the same time some others hope relaxation in visa policy and a strong anti-China stand.
Speaking to Orissa POST, Sarmishtha Satpathy from California in the USA, said, “Trump has been making multiple false remarks about his victory in the states when counting was underway. Trump, however, is incorrectly claiming victory, whereas Joe Biden is asking people to be calm and patient, and is waiting for the results.”
She said, “It’s a close race, but with an impressive turnout. Trump’s statements have incited multiple people to baselessly talk about voter fraud and the process not having changed at all over the years.”
Many criticised the Electoral College voting system saying under this system the voters do not elect the President, instead they choose presidential electors who then vote for the President.
“The system is pretty outdated and it seems like many Americans are also unhappy with it because it doesn’t value each vote equally,” Satpathy said.
Similar thoughts were shared by Sadyasnata Pattanaik of Chicago. She said that the Electoral College is incredibly outdated. “The reason we have it in the first place is only because of slavery. It has been controversial since its inception. We must come up with a better system,” Pattanaik added.
She said that whosoever deserves to win is not important there really. “But if you look at the facts, one candidate is threatening our democracy, lies to the public constantly, uses racist, prejudiced and sexist rhetoric all the time. So, I would say that I am more Anti-Trump than pro-Biden.”
Talking about expectations from new president, Pattanaik said, “I hope the new president issues a national mask mandate and brings the virus to control here. He should address all the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests and help to lessen police power nationwide. Lastly, priority should be given to addressing climate change issues.”
Jayanta Rout of Texas, however, expects relaxation in US visa rules and healthy relationship with India. “We also expect some definite action against China from the new president,” Rout said. Trump didn’t handle the pandemic situation in exceptional way and also his response towards visa policy is not so good, Rout added.About Biden, Satpathy said it would be nice to have an American president who believes in science and climate change, listens to scientists and takes steps to reduce global warming.
Anya Rath of Indiana said, “Biden deserves a win because he not only has overwhelmingly received the mandate, but I also believe that he will help heal a nation that has been divided by President Trump’s racist rhetoric and irresponsible policies.”
Pratyush Das from Oklahoma said that Trump has failed miserably in tackling Covid-19 pandemic. US now has the highest deaths in the world. “I don’t have much faith in politics. The very fact that so many people in my country do not think that climate change is a real phenomenon and it leads me to believe we will not survive as a species for much longer.”
Rajesh Panda, who hails from Naperville, Illinois, said, “The new president’s focus should be on improving economy, health sector in the country which had suffered in a big way. Also, the relationship with India also should improve after looking at the role of China post Covid-19.”