Whether you are following the election seriously or not, it’s pretty much impossible to say that this isn’t one of, if not the most, important presidential election in American history. As a young American citizen, it is important to know what each candidate stands for and how it will affect you and our future generations. We at A Magazine have gone over five key issues surrounding this election and Clinton and Trump’s views on each of them
Taxes:
Hillary Clinton: As the first ever woman democratic nominee for president, Clinton has set out a tax plan that she hopes will help working class Americans. She is planning to increase taxes on the top 1 percent in the country, which would roughly finance three quarters of her tax increase plan.
Donald Trump: Trump wants to do the mere opposite of Clinton and reduce the amount of tax brackets within the country. He also plans to reduce taxes and help increase the income of the top 1 percent in this country.
College Education:
HC: Clinton has devised a plan that would send students to a public college or university for free if their family has an income of less than $125,000 a year. To do so, Clinton will create a $500 billion tax plan to increase taxes on the rich, so students will graduate college debt free.
DT: Trump has not been extremely vocal this election about his plans to help students pay for college. Per the New York Times, “Mr. Trump has said that student loans should be the business of private banks, not the government, and that lenders should make decisions based on earning potential.”
Abortion
HC: Clinton has made it apparent through the years before this election, specifically when she was First Lady and Secretary of State, that she is pro-choice. She is also supportive of abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
DT: Trump is the opposite; however, he states his view has “evolved” over time. He is currently pro-life, but in 1999 claimed to be very pro-choice. He only agrees with abortion in times of incest, rape or if the mother is near death.
Health Care:
HC: Clinton is strongly in favor of the Affordable Care Act and wants to continue to improve it. She is also in favor of women’s reproductive health plans, plans to continually fund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Hyde Amendment, a legislative provision barring the use of certain federal funds to pay for abortion. However, if you do not sign up for the healthcare plan and you are over the age of 26 or married, you will be fined by the government. The most important thing Clinton seems to be stressing with the ACA is that it will provide healthcare for all.
DT: Trump couldn’t be more opposite than Clinton on healthcare. Trump first plans to completely repeal the ACA. He also wants to defund Planned Parenthood and make the Hyde Amendment a permanent law. Instead, he wants to allow insurance companies to compete in multiple states, allowing for more competition in the marketplace overall.
Minimum Wage
HC: According to candidatecomparison.org, “Clinton supports raising the minimum wage, and has specifically called out the tipped minimum wage as deeply unfair.” She has voiced her support for the “Fight For $15” campaign that advocates raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
DT: Trump’s issue with minimum wage is the competition with other countries. He is afraid our labor will be much too expensive and thinks a low minimum wage isn’t necessarily bad for our country. He basically wants to keep minimum wage where it is currently.
Whether you are rooting for Clinton or Trump, it is important to know the issues before you cast your vote. Some other great sites to get more information on the candidates is:
Candidatecomparison.org
OnTheIssues.org
Vote-USA.org
