By Shay M Lawson Esq.

We are now just two months away from Trump officially taking office as President of the United States. Before you put in your two months notice and pray the Canadian immigration site comes back up today there are three things you should know about living in Trump’s America that should give you a glimmer of hope.

1. THIS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT…YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER.

THEY will tell you Trump’s victory was a result of minority voters who did not support Hillary and would rather not vote than cast a vote for her. However, polls show the exact opposite. Overall voter turnout was up close to 5% and Hillary overwhelmingly won among both young and minority voters by double-digit margins.

So although she may have lost, this turnout was a major factor on the passage of key items that affect our everyday lives like increased minimum wage in five different states, increasing background check requirements for buying guns from private sellers, and keeping the state from turning local schools charter.

So yes, your vote matters, your vote counts.

2. NO WALL AROUND MEXICO WILL BE BUILT…IT’S STILL BUSINESS AS USUAL IN CONGRESS.

Congress fought President Obama tooth and nail on almost every item of his agenda and has time and time again failed to balance the budget or even keep enough money in the government to remain operational. Well guess what? These same people will still be in Congress for Donald Trump as Republicans overwhelmingly won the House and the Senate. And guess what else? Overwhelmingly, these same Republicans do not back Trump or his policies, 160 Republican members to be exact.

Although having a Republican president and a Republican Congress can sound scary, it is highly unlikely Congress will kick Muslims out or fund a wall around the Mexican border. However, with the faces remaining the same it is very likely that it will continue to be business as usual in Congress.

3. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS PETTY WILL PREVAIL.

Congress has no problem being petty. Look at how long they looked into Hillary’s emails . They impeached her husband for what was largely family business that did not affect national or international affairs. They managed to bring pharmaceutical companies to task over EpiPen prices in a single month but took years to pass affordable health care legislation. And although hundreds continue to lose their lives at the hands of the police and senseless gun violence, a key piece of reform legislation has been sitting at committee for two years.

Please trust that a Trump presidency is going to be the truest trial of the checks and balances system in U.S. history and Congress will not hesitate at its first opportunity to bring him up on impeachment charges for the slightest indiscretion.

So sit tight…the Constitution was made for times like this and although we often feel that the system fails us this may be one time the Constitution proves to be the saving grace of the American public.