As seen in the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on Sept. 10, the two candidates have very different policies that they would implement if they were to reach the Oval Office. Let us take a look at some of the policies that Americans say are the most important to them.
Many students are aware of the topics on the table when it comes to adults casting their ballots. Freshman Lucas Elena believes that a top issue facing voters this election is abortion rights: “Women having full control over their bodies and being able to get an abortion is a controversial topic for this election, with many voters fearing how a ban could affect the country.” Sophomore Joseph Wolk said, “I think that the top issue facing future voters is economic stability and how much inflation will increase in upcoming years. This is because when we are old enough to vote, we are going to set out on our own lives and will have to afford to deal with the economic struggles.” In the article “Americans’ Top Policy Priority for 2024: Strengthening the Economy” as posted on the Pew Research Center website (www.pewresearch.org), some of the top-three issues for voters in this election are the economy, immigration, and abortion rights. Now, let us take a look at the stances the candidates have on this issue.
Generally speaking, the price of goods has gone up substantially because of inflation. Harris and Trump have two very different plans for how they will handle the economy. If elected, Harris says that she has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working class of America. Harris said that she would like to make an “Opportunity Economy.” Harris has admitted that the cost of goods and the cost of living are too expensive for some families. One of Harris’ plans is to extend a tax cut of $6,000 to new families. In the debate, she said this is so families can “afford to buy a crib, car seat, and clothes for their children.” She also elaborated that one of her “passions” is small business and wants to give a $50,000 tax deduction for small business startups. On the other hand, Trump said his administration is going to put tariffs on imported goods from other countries, adding that the tariffs would be “substantial” in some cases. Trump also promised to drill for more oil, which is a key production factor for many businesses. As posted on The Guardian website (www.theguardian.com) on Oct. 21, 2024, Harris has a slight lead over Trump in future ability to handle the economy.
Immigration is another key issue for voters in this election, as evidenced by its prevalence during the debate. Harris was tasked by President Biden to address the root causes of migration from Central America. Harris discussed the bipartisan border security bill that different party members in Congress worked on. Harris supports this bill, and she said it would add 150,000 more border security agents on the border, allowing the U.S. to stem the flow of fentanyl coming into the country. Harris attacked Trump for “killing” the bill, saying that “[Trump] would rather run on a problem than fix the problem.” According to the article “Could Trump Really Deport One Million Immigrants?” as posted on the BBC News website (www.bbc.com), Trump vowed to seal the border by completing the building of a wall and increasing law enforcement. He also promised to complete a mass deportation of undocumented migrants. Immigration is a controversial issue in this election, and polls do show that Trump is leading in the polls on the issue of immigration.
Ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2021, states have been able to make their own laws and policies on abortion. As a result, abortion has been a top issue in many voters’ minds. Since the ruling in 2021, Harris has seemingly been the White House’s go-to representative for abortion. The Harris Campaign feels that abortion is one of its strongest points. Harris is strongly against efforts to restrict abortion access. In the debate, Harris said, “I pledge to you that when Congress passes a bill to put back the protections of Roe v. Wade, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.” In the debate, Harris also slammed Trump for being the president that put three Supreme Court Justices on the court who all voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump has called himself the most “pro-life president” in history. His latest position on abortion is that abortion laws and policy should be a decision made by the states, not the federal government. His running mate, JD Vance, said that Trump would veto a national abortion ban. He also believes Trump’s administration would “be great for women and their reproductive rights.” In the debate, Trump said, “…for 52 years, they have been trying to get Roe v. Wade back into the states, and through the genius, and heart, and strength of six Supreme Court justices, we were able to do that. Now, I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother …” In the article “More Voters, Especially Women, New Say Abortion Is Their Top Issue” as posted on The New York Times website (www.nytimes.com), Harris is leading on the issue of abortion.
As the election draws close, many students are discussing it more and receiving more information from the news. Social studies teacher David Rabinowitz has noticed an increase in conversation surrounding the election. “ Each week we are spending a bit of time dedicated to the current events surrounding the election. The sophomores whom I teach will be eligible to vote in 2028. Discussions now in 2024 will better familiarize them with the presidential bids, campaigns, and the electoral process. Each presidential election is important,” Rabinowitz explained.
