*Art by Alegria Grijalva
As October starts winding down, the stress of the election year begins to set in further. With a large population of new voters, such as myself, many of them are confused. Plenty of young adults are still uncommitted to who they will cast their vote for, and some don’t even bother delving into the complicated world of politics. But the truth is, politics affects everyone! No matter your age, sexuality, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class– voting is a privilege that everyone should take advantage of, especially in such an important presidential election like this one. This article will break down the political past and future policy plans of our two candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, provide constructive criticism of both parties, and discuss the indecisive nature of Generation Z.
Donald Trump is a figure we are all familiar with. Winning the 2016 presidential election against Hillary Clinton, he served one term before losing the race in 2020 to Joseph Biden (despite his denial of the defeat). He was the first person without any government or military service elected into office. During his presidency, he focused on improving the American economy, which he succeeded at wildly before the COVID-19 pandemic. The American people often view Trump conjoined with this idea of economic stability in mind, giving him credit where credit is due. However, his policies regarding immigration and foreign affairs were problematic in many ways.
He limited asylum and legal immigration protections, banned immigration from over a dozen countries, and of course, his infamous controversies with the border of the US and Mexico. Trump made a few unpopular decisions concerning international matters as well, including the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, blaming China for the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic after initially downplaying the threat of the disease, and the removal of thousands of troops in the Middle East, ultimately setting Joseph Biden up for failure.
Kamala Harris is a relatively newer figure in American federal-level politics, with this being her second presidential race and first time as the delegated candidate for the Democratic party. This is one of her weaknesses between the American people, as well as her being a woman of color. While she doesn’t have experience in the presidency like Trump, Harris does have previous experience in government, which is something our former president did not have during his initial race. Originally a district attorney of San Francisco, she was then elected as the attorney general of the state of California and served in this position for many years before being a senator. She then withdrew from this position when she joined Joseph Biden as the Vice President of the United States in 2021.
While this experience gives Harris a great advantage at the debate podium, it is also her downfall as a candidate. Since we have little history on her political standpoints compared to Trump, many Americans feel they don’t know enough about her to seek stability in her policies. She has failed to garner the attention of working-class voters, a group of people that has been increasingly swaying toward right-wing values for years.
There are a lot of present-day issues that must be considered between both candidates.
With Trump, one of the biggest is Project 2025: a hidden-yet-threatening political initiative that puts a myriad of freedoms at risk. This proposed policy would strip the rights away from queer and transgender communities, women, immigrants, black and other ethnic groups, impoverished and low-income communities, and countless others. Donald Trump claims he is not affiliated with the project, yet numerous members of his administration are involved with the initiative. Not only this, but he has made over 40 “promises” to the American people that he will act upon on day one of office, which include mass deportations regardless of status and cutting funds to schools that educate their students on race and gender theory. Additionally, his infamous “We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not going to have to vote” quote threatens the foundations of our natural rights as citizens.
While Harris projects herself as the voice of social justice politics and heavily markets toward the younger generation of voters, she doesn’t speak on certain social issues. Millions of Americans were waiting to hear from her regarding the execution of Marcellus Williams, a black man sentenced to the death penalty just three weeks ago for a crime that held no evidence against him; and she stayed silent. Another timely controversy is the genocide in Gaza. Palestinians have been urging politicians since last October to stop funding Israel, and while foreign affairs are not that simple, that does not take away from their disappointment and a loss of votes. Many bring up Harris’s past as a prosecutor as well, especially her mass incarceration of black men in the war on drugs.
And this is why young voters are uninterested, confused, and fearful.
Federal politics grows more and more nuanced each year. With this many critiques, small details, and complications, Generation Z is overwhelmed by the choice. Many choose to ignore the election and stay away from politics, and the rest don’t even know where to begin. New voters must take all this information and create their own fundamental belief system. So much is at stake in this election and some are deeply afraid of the outcome. Trump represents financial stability in a crumbling economy of an impossible housing market and ceaseless inflation, while Harris prioritizes the protection of American civil rights and social freedoms.
Despite the immense fear of the ballot, it’s critical to recognize the importance of voting. The internet may sway you to believe that your vote doesn’t matter, but it does. While one vote seems insignificant, combined with the force of millions beside you it is beyond powerful! It’s essential to learn about the realm of politics as young people. We are this country’s future, whether we want to be or not, and the first step to making our nation a better place is education. The most crucial element of the American future is progress, and while both candidates are far from perfect, we must vote for the one who will point us in the right direction.
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Sources:
“What Trump has promised to do on ‘day one’ as president”
“Kamala Harris’s policy positions, where she stands on key issues”
“Trump’s Foreign Policy Moments”
“Kamala’s Strengths and Weaknesses”
“Trump Administration Accomplishments”
“Why has Kamala Harris been silent about the death penalty?”
“Trump Declines to Back Away From ‘You Don’t Have to Vote Again’ Line”
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