With elections right around the corner and two painfully opposite, yet similar candidates to choose from, you may be wondering who you actually side with. Have no fear, I’m here to break down each candidate’s views on the hot topics that will be heavily affected once one of them is inevitably elected into office next week.
DEMOCRAT – Hillary Clinton
Abortion:
Believes that it is a big government move to try and intervene on a woman’s right to choose because it is up to the woman and/or her doctor to make that decision. Clinton has expressed support and wants to ensure the funding of Planned Parenthood. She would also like to take another look at the 1973 Helms Amendment which prohibits using foreign assistance funds for abortion.
Economy:
Wants to create jobs by spending money on infrastructure and clean energy. Her goal is to build an economy that works for everyone.
Education:
Senator Clinton wants to keep Common Core, and also make college more affordable.
Energy:
Goal is to make America clean again. Clinton wants America to become the world’s clean energy superpower and she also plans to take on climate change.
Foreign Policy:
Wants to accept 65,000 Syrian refugees. Would also like to continue implementing the foreign policy set into place by the Obama Administration. Also has a goal of defeating Isis by finding the creators, cutting off their online recruitment, and create stricter screenings for visa applications of people that have traveled to an Islamic State controlled country at any point over the last five years.
Gun Control:
Universal background checks will become mandatory and any loopholes that allow the wrong people to have guns will be closed.
Healthcare:
Allow Americans to enroll in Medicare on their 55th birthday. Legalize the importation of Canadian prescription drugs. Re-name Obamacare, Hillarycare.
Immigration:
Wants an immigration reform. Demands a pathway to citizenship. Plans to keep Obama’s executive order on DACA and DAPA programs.
Tax Reform:
Plans to raise taxes on the top 1% (anyone making at least $732,000 a year) of earners (the wealthy, Wall Street, and corporations). Promises to leave the tax rates of everyone else the same.
Trade:
Wants to change the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal because she thinks it to be unacceptable the way it is now.
REPUBLICAN – Donald Trump
Abortion:
Ban late term abortion. The only exceptions would be rape, incest, and health reasons. Also wants to defund Planned Parenthood.
Economy:
Improve the economy by bringing jobs back from China and Mexico.
Education:
The federal government should not be making a profit off of student loans. Get rid of Common Core.
Energy:
Does not support green-energy – finds it to be too expensive.
Foreign Policy:
Temporarily close our borders to countries that have a history of terrorism. Does not want to take in any Syrian refugees at this time. Is not against trying anything (i.e. Waterboarding) to take out Isis.
Gun Control:
The right of the people to keep and bear arms will not be infringed upon. Mass shootings are caused by mental illness.
Health Care:
Keep pre-existing condition coverage. Repeal Obamacare, reform health care based on free market principles, and ease regulations on overseas drug providers.
Immigration:
Build a wall on the border of Mexico on Mexico’s dime. Enforce immigration laws. Keep our country safe by temporarily banning all immigration from countries with a history of terrorism.
Tax Reform:
Reduce business taxes. Cut taxes at all income levels.
Trade:
End free-trade with China. Opposes Trans-Pacific partnership deal.
GREEN PARTY – Jill Stein
Abortion:
Wants to protect the woman’s right to choose.
Economy:
Change federal minimum wage to $15/hour. Break up “too big to fail” banks and replace them
with democratically run public banks.
Education:
Abolish student debt. Guarantee tuition free public education from kindergarten until college.
Energy:
Transition to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030. Invest more in public transit, conservation, and sustainable agriculture. End energy extraction such as fracking.
Foreign Policy:
End the wars and drone attacks. Cut military spending by at least 50% and close at least 700 foreign military basis. Thinks that military presence only helped Isis grow.
Gun Control:
Wants the NRA to stay out of politics because it fails to represent the majority of the American people.
Healthcare:
Establish a better “Medicare for All” insurance program.
Immigration:
Create a welcome path for citizens. Claims that deportation is immoral.
Tax Reform:
Prevent corporate and wealthy companies from not being taxed, plans to close these loopholes.
Trade:
Does not like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
LIBERTARIAN – Gary Johnson
Abortion:
Believes that individuals should be allowed to make their own choices in their personal lives. Supports abortion rights.
Economy:
Balance the budget.
Education:
Believes education should be in the hands of state and local governments. Eliminate Federal Department of Education as well as abolish Common Core.
Energy:
Says that the federal government should leave leave energy development to the marketplace. Insists that, although people are the ones contributing to the climate change only the government can fix it.
Foreign Policy:
No military intervention in Syria.
Gun Control:
Carrying guns reduces crime and mass shootings.
Health Care:
Opposes health insurance mandated by the government.
Tax Reform:
Stop special interest loopholes. Simplify tax code.
Trade:
Trans-Pacific partnership is a way to advance to free trade.
INDEPENDENT – Evan McMullin
Abortion:
Believes that all life is precious and we have a duty to protect it.
Economy:
Make tax code fairer and simpler in an effort to grow the U.S. economy at the same rates it grew in the 1980’s and 90’s.
Education:
Keep the federal government out of education.
Energy:
Wants to expand domestic energy production including natural gas and oil.
Foreign Policy:
Rebuild the military and give the service men and women what they need in order to succeed.
Gun Control:
Believes that our nation is safest when we have access to our own guns. Does not want to take guns away.
Health Care:
Repeal Obamacare, but strengthen Medicare and improve Medicaid.
Tax Reform:
Plans to charge small businesses only 25% of the their profits in tax.
Trade:
Market American products that are sold overseas so that there can be more of a profit.
Remember Collegiettes, no matter who you are planning on voting for, make sure you know exactly why they deserve your vote. Do research, figure out you own standpoints, but most importantly… GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES.