It looks like we have elected the 46th president. At least that is what the TV networks say. They also predicted that it would be a blowout, that a Blue Wave would invite Democrats into the White House and bring them a bunch of Senate seats, too.

Well, the dust has settled, and while we saw a record 160 million Americans go to the polls, the 2020 election turned into a phantom Democratic blowout.

Late Sunday, vote tallies show President-elect Joe Biden gathered 74 million votes while President Donald Trump earned 70.2 million. It looks like voters chose to remove the current occupant of the White House. His personality turned off a lot of voters. But they didn’t embrace the entire batch of progressive Democratic ideas, either.

Instead, voters sided with the Republicans and decided not to flip the Senate, as Democrats picked up just one seat.

Here in Maine, incumbent Susan Collins, helped by a boatload of out of state cash and smiles from Bill Green, held onto her seat. She beat Sara Gideon, who also had help from a zillion dollars from out of staters.

Nationally, Democrats lost four House seats while their opponents picked up five. Also, it looks like the Republicans maintained control of many state legislatures, except in Maine.

Some Trump supporters claim Biden won because of massive election fraud. So far, there is little evidence of that, but if there was a fraud, it was pretty clumsy. Why did they flip the presidency and leave other offices in Republican hands?

The 2020 election was a big story. But I believe the next election will be even more significant.

We live in one of the oldest communities in the oldest county in the oldest state in the union. About 20 percent of our neighbors are 65 or older. For many of us, this will be our last national election.

The world we grew up in is changing. We see these changes reflected in our children and grandchildren. We old geezers, those of us born before and during World War II, grew up with a set of values, prejudices and social taboos that began to change back in the 1960s. Many believe change began earlier than when the G.I. Bill funded college education for the war veterans.

Then some of the Baby Boomers, questioned the Vietnam war, pushed for civil rights, equal rights and gay rights, paving the way for minorities to achieve national leadership positions.

We are seeing major changes in our way of life, too. Retail commerce is moving to Amazon and others, leaving national department stores in the lurch.

Once the province of newspapers, national magazines, radio, and TV networks, communication is migrating to handheld devices boasting more computing power than the rocket ship that took men to the moon. Electric cars are no longer novelties as the big boys are getting into the act, with Ford poised to offer an electric Mustang.

As we argue over what to do about climate change, we see dozens of coal-fired power plants quietly closing as major corporations embrace alternative energy sources.

But those are long term problems. Today, we face other immediate challenges.

While President-elect Joe Biden gathered more votes than any other presidential candidate, so did Donald Trump, and his Republican supporters are not ready to take down their banners just yet.

President-elect Biden is a man of the Senate. That is where he grew up and spent much of his life. He was not elected king. He can’t wave his magic wand and solve problems. He will have to reach out to his old senate friends to make any impact.

When he moves into the White House on Jan. 20, the nation’s problems will be there to greet him at the door.

Mr. COVID-19 has infected more than 9.9 million Americans. We have lost more than 237,000 souls. The economy, humming along a year ago, is struggling. Somehow our political leaders, on both sides, will have to figure a way to get both under control.

It is a daunting task. Biden and his Democratic allies can’t do it by themselves. On the other hand, the Republicans can’t act alone, either. They need each other to face problems that won’t go away.

Neither side can wish a pandemic away. They must work together. Isn’t that a novel idea?

Speaking of folks who proved you can solve problems together, Tuesday is the 245th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Semper Fi. The next day is Veterans Day.

Thanks to all who served their nation. May the Almighty watch over those who now wear the uniform.