By Rebekah Chiasson | Assistant Editor
Just one day before the election, Democrat and professor at MWCC, Michelle Valois feared internal conflict within our nation if Trump were to be elected. According to ABC, CNN, USA Today, her fears came true with nation-wide Trump protests felt in California, Chicago, and Washington just days after the election of future President Trump. Valois explained, “I am very nervous for the poor and working and middle class, but I am more nervous for Muslims, Mexicans, all people of color, immigrants (legal and illegal), the LGBTQ community, especially trans youth,” and added, “If Trump cannot pass legislation that adversely affects their lives, I fear that his supporters might feel that it is now okay to harass and hurt these most vulnerable and marginalized people.”
As an educator, Valois believes education is the key to success. In order to improve the public education systems, Valois proposed tax dollars need to be generated from our wealthiest 1% instead of the working middle-class folk. “It’s too bad that we don’t recognize that the real problem is economic inequality,” Valois explained, “If poor and working people of all colors and races got together, then maybe real change would happen. We need to fight the rich, not each other.”
Even with the turmoil felt within our borders, Valois said she is confident “If any generation can solve these problems, this generation can.” Valois compared our young generation to that of her grandparents who survived the Great Depression. “People call my parents the ‘Greatest Generation,’ Valois claimed, “But young people today, the grand and great grandchildren of this Greatest Generation, will meet the challenges that faced them head on and do amazing things, too.”
Valois said as a child, she asked her grandmother, Mai Mai, whether she was a Democrat or Republican. Mai Mai, who as a female did not have the right to vote at age 18, told Valois, “People like us have no business being anything but a Democrat.”
As Valois matured, she learned “People like us” meant middle-working class citizens. Valois professed, “It never ceases to amaze (and trouble) me that working-class and middle-class people vote Republican. Why? Hilary Clinton, like Obama before her, wants to increase taxes for the wealthiest Americans.” Valois thinks raising taxes on the upper class “is what is needed to right our country.”
Valois hypothesized that because President Reagan lowered the taxes on the wealthiest American’s in the 80s, the US is “still feeling the effects” today. Back in the 1950s and 60s, Valois’ father who had only an 8th-grade education, was a veteran of WWII, and learned a trade, was able to put six children through college, four of which went on to get master’s degrees. Valois argued, “He was able to do this because the rich paid their fair share of taxes” and added, “schools were stronger and public higher education was affordable.”
Valois was also fearful Trump would overturn Roe v. Wade, claiming it would be “devastating” to take away from safe and legal abortions. Obama has already taken preventative action to protect these rights according to the Huffington Post with the proposition of the Title X program which will provide basic preventative health care and family planning services for 4 million low-income Americans. According to the Huffington Post, Planned Parenthood would receive $70 million annually with the Title X program.
Valois voted for Hillary in honor of her Mai Mai and all women who were historically denied the right to vote. However, she originally rooted for Bernie Sanders during the primaries and still reps a big “Feel the Bern” poster in her front porch window.
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