Clinton vs. Trump: What Actually Matters
The mainstream media has chosen to focus on gossip about Clinton and Trump instead of proactively informing citizens of their political standpoints. I have seen countless videos and read articles that are more akin to TMZ or the New York Post than factual news, so I've decided to compile a list of topics most relevant to students and young voters, and the position each candidate holds.
Education and Affordability
Clinton: "Let's...make debt-free college available to everyone...And let's liberate the millions of Americans who already have student debt." Clinton plans to allocate a $25 billion fund to colleges that tend to have minority students, help parents attend college, and allow all students to graduate from a community or public college without loans.
Trump: "As your President, I will be the nation's biggest cheerleader for school choice." This term refers to the option to choose one's school according to each student's needs. He specifically focuses on the rights of inner city school children, such as kids living in Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit. Trump also supports "merit-pay", which is the idea that better teachers should earn more.
Energy and Environment
Clinton: "I won't let anyone take us backward, deny our economy the benefits of harnessing a clean energy future, or force our children to endure the catastrophe that would result from unchecked climate change." She plans to install enough solar panels to power every home in the country and to reduce emissions on an individual home basis as well as promoting cleaner forms of transportation.
Trump: "We're going to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement and stop all payments of U.S. tax dollars to U.N. global warming programs." Trump's focus is creating more jobs, using cheaper energy, and then lastly to protect the environment. He plans to remove Obama's previous Climate Action Plan, and utilize American energy sources as opposed to sources overseas.
Women's Rights
Clinton: "Too often, these are called women's issues." Clinton highlights that the wellbeing of women is the wellbeing of America. She supports Planned Parenthood, safe abortions in which women can make their own choice with the help of their doctor, and access to contraceptives.
Trump: In an interview with CNN, Trump was asked if he would change the Republican platform's protection of the unborn child in cases of incest, rape, or the life of the mother and answered, "Yes, I would. Yes, I would. Absolutely, for the three exceptions, I would."
LGBT Equality
Clinton: "There are still too many places where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are targeted for harassment and violence." Clinton plans to protect the LGBT community through increasing education in schools, fostering shelters for homeless youth struggling with discrimination and bringing about awareness of LGBT military service.
Trump: "I would strongly consider that, yes" responded Trump when asked during a Fox News interview if he would appoint members of the Supreme Court who would question the legality of same-sex marriage. He believes it is an issue that should be dealt with by state governments, not by the federal government.
Voting Rights
Clinton: "It's hard to believe Americans are still forced to fight for their right to vote" said Clinton, who will work on making voting easier and more accessible to all. She will have all eligible voters automatically registered, unless citizens opt out. She will also work to protect the rights of minority voters.
Trump: "Hillary Clinton is banking on her friend Terry McAuliffe getting thousands of violent felons to the voting booths in effort to cancel out the votes of both law enforcement and crime victims. They are letting people vote in your [Virginia] election that should not be allowed to vote. Sad. So sad." said Trump, according to a CNN news statement. *He is referencing both African-American voters and felons who have successfully completed their sentences, a controversial, and potentially offensive clumping together of completely separate groups.
For even more information, visit the New York Times guide to this year's election. It is full of red and blue visuals that will satisfy any appetite for political knowledge and help your 2016 election knowledge. Also, take a look at Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump's websites.
But most importantly, regardless of your political views, register and vote. Your vote counts.
