By Robert Craig

The 2014 United States midterm election was a game changer.

According to Philip Bump of The Washington Post, “This will be the most dominant Republican Congress since 1929, with an almost certain 8 percent majority in the Senate and an 11.7 to 17.7 percent majority in the House.”

As the midterm election came to a close, the Republican Party won 22 of the 36 Senate seats and they also won 246 of the 435 seats in the House.

These wins gave the Republican Party a net gain of seven Senate seats and 13 House seats.

Most voters know that Republicans are known for their extremely conservative values. What could this new Congress mean for the younger, more contemporary population? More importantly, what could this mean for you?

According to the GOP’s Republican Platform, here are a few things you should realize.

If you’re a woman, don’t expect equal pay as men, since Republicans have consistently voted against or sought to block the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Because the Republicans want to overturn Roe versus Wade, certain states may not allow women to have abortions, or just may make them more difficult to obtain. So if you’re a woman, don’t expect full control over your body anytime soon.

Furthermore, don’t expect to be able to get an abortion even after you’ve been raped in some states, if some Republicans get their way.

Republicans believe in “preserving and protecting traditional marriage,” which means the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, according to their platform.

So if you’re gay, don’t expect to be able to get married in certain states. Also, don’t expect your lawful marriage in New York to be recognized in Alabama.

If you’re a single parent with little college education, don’t expect minimum wage to rise high enough for you to actually support your children and live comfortably, thanks to Republicans voting against increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour.

The Republican platform has a “vision” of a free people using their God-given talents, combined with hard work, self- reliance, ethical conduct and the pursuit of opportunity. This philosophy does not allow for any public assistance or what they call “entitlements” of any kind.

If you’re terminally ill, don’t expect the best health care possible.

Repealing Obamacare is at the top of the Republicans’ list. Good luck finding accessible healthcare.

If you’re black, or even worse, living in a southern Republican-controlled state, your right to vote may be compromised.

Finally, if you’re an undocumented, but responsible, hard-working immigrant, don’t expect to become an American citizen as long as Republicans continue to block immigration reform.

For an even longer list of what the Republican party supports and opposes, head to www.gop.com/platform or any other Republican or GOP website.