By Ashley Hefner, Photographer and Staff Writer
“I’m voting for Trump because he’s better for Israel.” That is a statement I’ve heard many times around the hallways of the Beren campus, but I seldom hear anyone talk about actual policies to back up that statement.
The U.S. presidential election is quickly approaching. Although I cannot vote as a Canadian, I imagine this election is very critical for many students who will be voting for the first time. That being said, it is concerning to see that many people do not know the candidates’ policies, resulting in uninformed, unknowledgeable decisions.
By simply Google searching “Kamala Harris” or “Donald Trump,” one can quickly find their websites, look at their platforms and learn about their intended policies under their presidencies. Rather than just repeating phrases said by parents or peers, one should go on the candidates’ websites and see for themselves what they stand for.
Regarding Israel, if former president Trump wins the upcoming election, he wants to “prevent World War Three [and] restore… peace… in the Middle East.” He also plans to “deport Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.” In contrast, Vice President Harris says she “Will never hesitate … to protect [the] U.S. … from… Iran-backed terrorist groups[,] will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself [and] always ensure Israel can defend itself.” Additionally, she wants to “end the war, [make sure] the hostages are released, and [end the] suffering in Gaza.”
At first glance, both candidates’ positions seem to support Israel. Therefore, it is up to us as individuals to determine whose policies will lead to the best possible outcome for the country we all love. This can be done by looking at the candidates’ statements and asking questions like: what will be the results of each candidate’s desires? Will Trump’s policies make campuses safer or negatively impact the Jewish people? In contrast, are Kamala’s desires for peace realistic or wishful thinking?
It is crucial that people question the effect of the possible future leaders’ desires rather than look at these statements at face value. Do not simply read the candidate’s platforms and decide who you will vote for based on those declarations. Instead, do research about how the potential president’s plan to make their dreams for the country come to fruition. This will aid in creating a deeper understanding of which candidate will be better for the country.
Although the crisis in Israel is at the forefront of many people’s minds, the candidate who gets voted in as president will have an impact on many other issues in the United States. These include healthcare, gun laws, immigration, climate change, inflation and many others. Questioning policies and intensely researching the candidates should be applied to other political issues in the U.S as well.
Understandably, one may be easily swayed to vote for Trump after his posts on social media saying that he’ll cut automobile insurance in half or, persuaded to vote for Kamala Harris when seeing posts on her Instagram account stating that she will alleviate medical debt for millions of Americans. It is also essential, however, to understand how they plan to achieve their desired results. Without knowing how the candidates plan to reach their goals, one is not conscious of the impact each end goal could have on them.
Americans have the privilege of living in a democratic society where they can vote for their leaders. We, as students, should exercise this privilege by researching to make informed decisions about who our world leaders should be. We should not be followers who choose who to vote for simply because we heard someone say, “I am voting for this person because they are better for this reason,” without being able to back up that statement with evidence.
Be an active player in your voting decision by taking accountability and doing your research. Researching will help individuals be informed on specific policies and find out where the different candidates truly stand on issues by understanding the impact they may have. Without fully appreciating the effect of implementing different policies, one cannot know if they agree or disagree with said policy.
It is so easy to passively agree with statements repeated by a majority of people in a community. Do not succumb to this. Take control of your decision regarding who to vote for president. All in all, no matter your decision, make sure you have followed an acceptable course of action to make a well-informed decision.
Photo Caption: (from left to right) Tim Walz, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and JD Vance
Photo Credit: Unsplash / Wikimedia Commons