Despite the need for progressive and forward-thinking policies which will improve America’s Republican-ravaged economy and get the country back on-track, 52% of the voters in Massachusetts handed Republican Scott Brown the Senate seat vacated by the late Edward Kennedy on Tuesday. With 93% of precincts reporting, Scott was beating Attorney General Martha Coakley 52% to 48%, giving Brown enough votes to declare a victory. With the win, Republicans now have the 41 Senate seats needed to place major roadblocks to the important policies, including healthcare reform, the Democrats and President Barack Obama have worked so hard to pass. While the defeat creates challenges for the Democrats, it should not be interpreted as a major conservative mandate from voters; Coakley lost by only 4% and her loss is largely seen as her failure to run a good campaign. Nonetheless, the United States just took a GIGANTIC step backwards.