Voting Vexation

There is no doubt you have heard the names “Hillary Clinton” and “Donald Trump” recently, whether it be on the news, on social media, or by word of mouth. The 2016 United States Presidential candidates have been in an ongoing battle to earn the votes of American citizens, beginning with their first live debate, which occurred on September 26th.

Some of you students in Mount Olive High School are 18, meaning you have the ability to cast your vote this year. The rest of us, however, will have to watch this election play out and wait patiently for the next one in four years. So for the voters of MOHS, who you will be voting for? Do you really know the candidates as well as you think? Here are five major issues and the candidates’ stances on each. The way you interpret their character and preparedness for presidency is entirely up to you.

Energy. It is what literally fuels our country. When it comes to green energy, or energy that is naturally abundant and renewable, Hillary Clinton sees the expansion of its usage as a major priority. On the other hand, Donald Trump does not see green energy as a priority, in fact he told the Washington Post, “We invested in a solar company, our country. It was a disaster. They lost plenty of money on that one.” United States has not always seen an immediate return on its investments in sources of green energy, but it’s benefits are worth exploring.

Abortion. Is it a woman’s right to choose? Hillary Clinton strongly believes that abortion is a woman’s unrestricted right. During her visit to Columbus, Ohio on her 2016 presidential tour, she told the crowd proudly, “I will defend a woman’s right to choose. And I will defend Planned Parenthood.” Donald Trump, on the other hand, conforms to the popular Republican belief that abortion is wrong and should be illegal. Trump also believes that Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization to provide reproductive health services to women across the world, including abortions, should be defunded and shut down. Clinton strongly disagrees, and supports Planned Parenthood.

Guns. With all of the horrible shootings that have been occurring in the United States, this topic is quite controversial. Hillary Clinton believes that in order to get gun violence under control, there should be no absolute right to gun ownership. At a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, hosted by NBC, Clinton stated, “I really do want to push hard to get more sensible restraints on gun ownership in the wrong hands and then to try to keep track of people who shouldn’t have guns.” Donald Trump believes the opposite, that more people should carry guns in order to defend themselves, especially since the Second Amendment states it is a right to bear arms. He told his supporters at a Las Vegas rally, “We love the Second Amendment, folks. Nobody loves it more than us, so just remember that.”

Taxes. Donald Trump, being extravagantly wealthy, believes taxes on the upper class should not be increased. Trump did not pay his taxes for approximately 18 years, however his tax plan reveals his intention to cut taxes for every class, poor to wealthy. However, he does not have a plan to replenish the United States’ extreme debt. Hillary, on the other hand, wants to increase taxes on the wealthy. She says “It’s outrageous that multi-millionaires and billionaires are allowed to play by a different set of rules than hardworking families, especially when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes.”

Immigration. The United States has been called a “Melting Pot” and a “Mosaic” since the major influx of immigrants in the early 20th century. Hillary Clinton supports the idea that illegal immigrants should be granted a chance at citizenship, rather than being banned from entrance. “I am 100% behind comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship,” she stated in her first televised interview of the 2016 campaign. Perhaps Trump’s strongest opinion as a presidential candidate is precisely the opposite. He believes that no immigrants should be able to cross the borders into the United States. Trump stated, “As president ... I would be very, very tough on the borders, and I would be not allowing certain people to come into this country without absolute perfect documentation.”

So who will it be? Take this information into account and try to determine which candidate better represents you and your values, and be sure you exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, November 8th!