Buies Creek, N.C—The multi-media news source “Politico” refers to the mid-term election results as “the worst Democratic defeat in 70 years.” With the Republicans capturing the U.S. House of Representatives and a “fistful” of Senate seats, the outcome signals a deep shift in power. But Campbell University government professor and self professed political junkie, Dr. Donald Schroeder, said the election results weren’t as transformative as the media claimed. Schroeder spoke at a Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
“It was a terrible week for the Democrats, but not a major victory for Republicans,” Schroeder said. “The Republicans didn’t win last night, the Democrats lost.”
According to Schroeder, the electorate isn’t embracing Republican policy, as much as it is rejecting Democratic policies. What the voters really want is unclear at this point, he said.
“Voters don’t like the fact that we are spending like we are; they don’t like running deficits, and they don’t like taxes,” Schroeder said. “But Republicans are going to have to figure out a message before they can really win over the electorate.”
According to a national survey, 73 percent of House voters disapprove of the job that Congress is doing, while 54 percent disapprove of the job the president is doing. But Schroeder said he doesn’t see change on the horizon.
“Unfortunately, the election results prove that with a Republican House and a Democratic Senate, the U.S. has all of the ingredients for gridlock,” he said.
Dr. Donald N. Schroeder, associate professor of government, has been a faculty member at Campbell since 1978. A native of Illinois, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago Circle and received the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Political Science from Duke University.
Before coming to Campbell, he taught at Louisiana State University, St. Xavier College (Chicago), Oakton Community College (Illinois), and Lamar University (Texas). Professor Schroeder’s primary fields of interest are political philosophy (particularly those of Aristotle and John Rawls) and constitutional law. During his tenure at Campbell he has taught American National Government, Ancient Political Thought, Medieval Political Thought, Modern European Political Thought, American Political Thought, Constitutional Development, and Constitutional Law. He is presently working on articles dealing with Aristotle’s political philosophy. Schroeder serves as advisor to the College Republicans.
Photo Copy: Campbell University Professor Dr. Donald Schroeder speaks at Department of Government, History and Justice Lunch and Learn session on Wednesday, Nov. 3.