Earlier this week, the 35th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed as a federal holiday.
This week also marks the changing ofthe guard in leadership of our country. President Donald Trump concluded his first and only term as our nation’s leader, ceding to the wishes of the people and the Electoral College in electing President Joe Biden.
The events leading up to this week has been tumultuous, to say the least. The vast majority of Americans choosing President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to lead our country for the next four years has prickled many voters in Marshall County and the State of Oklahoma overall.
Social unrest, a COVID-19 pandemic, and allegations of voter fraud all have rocked the country and has left a definite amount ofuncertainty ofwhere we are heading into the next several years as a nation.
With President Trump’s administration, we have seen the overhaul of the Affordable Cares Act (more appropriately known as Obamacare), America recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and renegotiating trade deals or treaties with several countries around the world.
Also, with Trump’s administration gave Americans a sense of hope with lower unemployment and giving the people a helping hand with economic assistance during the pandemic. The Republican Party had control ofthe United States Senate and pushed along the Trump agenda, whenever possible.
However, not matter how much good came out of the Trump administration, his legacy could be forever tarnished with recent events in the last two weeks of his presidency. Trump became the first American president be impeached twice,
Trump is being accused of inciting the January 6, 2021 riots upon the United States Capitol, in which a total of five people died and numerous others were injured, with hundreds arrested for the insurrection events that day.
This week, though, a new regime takes over and will attempt to curb the abundant number of cases and deaths from the pandemic. Questions loom on whether or not we will see a national shutdown to get the pandemic under control or how it will affect small businesses, especially here in Marshall County.
Will there be a continued economic growth and will it be beneficial enough in this area to keep people continuing to live in Marshall County and warrant new people coming to the region? There are many important questions. What will the next four years bring? Only time will tell.