No-change November

As sad as it may sound, nothing will change following the pesidential election in November.

Sure, we'll have new leadership and a major changing of the guard.

But on the critical issues that divide this nation, nothing will change. At least not immediately.

Come Wednesday, Nov. 9, the racial divide will remain, the steady flow of illegal immigrants will continue to flood in and our national bank balance will still be deep in the red.

Regardless of the election outcome, as many as perhaps 49 percent of Americans will still disagree with the direction of this country.

We tend to think elections solve problems but, in reality, they just usher in new policies. Yet the lingering issues don't just evaporate once the votes are counted.

A Trump election will most certainly affect the way this nation views the flood of immigrants coming to our shores. And a Trump election will also put renewed business practices into place to repair a crumbling economy.

But the racial divide will likely widen with a Trump victory. We shudder to think of just where that divide will take us.

A Clinton victory will likely see an increase in newcomers and -- with her Bernie-like promises -- will undoubtedly put the national economy in a deeper financial ditch.

Once again, a sizable portion of Americans will be sorely disappointed come Nov. 9.

The dissatisfaction is a given in this election cycle. But what happens next?

The Democratic machine is quick to label Trump as unstable and prone to impulsive actions that could put this nation in peril.

The Republicans continue to brand Mrs. Clinton as untrustworthy and voice growing concerns over her pledge to keep the ship of state pointing in the Obama direction.

Well Trump is impulsive. And Clinton is untrustworthy. And that's our choice.

If you ignore the personalities -- which is impossible -- and instead simply focus on policies, the choice is clear on virtually all issues facing this nation.

If you are satisfied with our nation's direction and want more of the same, I suspect your mark will go beside Mrs. Clinton's name on the ballot. You may not agree with what you get but at least you know where we're headed.

Trump offers less-than-specific ideas on how to change this direction but, at least, there is some hope that our downward slide will reverse itself.

One close friend said this week he was anxious to get the election behind him and finally put an end to the turbulence and turmoil that is our daily lives.

But just because we have new residents on Pennsylvania Avenue most certainly doesn't promise much change.

Michael Jensen is the editor of the Standard Democrat in Sikeston, Missouri.