Trump offers best hope for economy
I am of the opinion that all politicians are awful. However, in the grand scheme of our country’s well-being, I believe that Donald Trump would be the optimal president for the 2024 election. Legally, I cannot vote in the upcoming election, but if I could, Trump would have mine.
One reason is the economy, which is not doing as well as it was compared to the end of Trump’s previous presidency in 2019. Anyone who has bought groceries or gas recently has been burdened by inflation. For instance, gas is currently over $3.24 per gallon across the country whereas in 2019, the average for the United States was $2.60 per gallon; an astounding 64 cent difference. While this seems insignificant, it adds up quickly. Grocery prices have also increased immensely since 2019, at an average increase of 28 percent. Again, this might not seem like much, but the amount of groceries you could buy for 100 dollars in 2019 is now worth about 128 dollars. These statistics are insane, especially for low to middle income citizens trying to provide for their families. I believe Trump’s reelection would help take the financial burden off of people who are struggling and give the nation’s economy the boost it needs.
I don’t necessarily agree with all of Trump’s policies, especially his thoughts on illegal immigration and the Mexican border; this is where my beliefs and his diverge. I agree that something must be done about the border, but do not agree with the extreme measures that Trump plans on taking. I believe that crossing the border should be easier for immigrants so people do not have to pursue illegal measures to enter our country. We are America, the melting pot of the world, and that shouldn’t change.
Another non-negotiable for me is the right to bear arms, which should not be tampered with. I believe that we, as Americans, should have the right to own and use guns. It should be more regulated, and I think that if you buy a gun, a safety course and background check should be required as well. If guns are regulated properly, gun-related accidents and crimes would decrease, including school shootings and hunting accidents. I believe background checks and safety lessons would help curb gun-related traumas. Trump believes in the right to the Second Amendment even more firmly than I do, and his main focus is making guns available for all, rather than ensuring gun safety. In my opinion, this is better than trying to ban certain types of guns, which is part of Kamala’s campaign. Like me, Harris is in favor of background checks. However, I don't agree with the fact that she is trying to ban certain guns such as AR platform rifles. This is why I prefer Trump’s gun policies, as banning guns neglects the rights Americans reap from the Second Amendment.
I disagree with how Trump handled the abortion crisis, as he sent the decision back for state governments to determine. I am of the belief that abortion should be legal but only to be used for certain scenarios, such as rape. For cases without special exception, I think abortion is inhumane, as it is a loss of human life. Harris believes that there should be abortion rights for any reason, not just in cases where abortion is used to save the life of the mother. Additionally, she believes in late term abortion, which I one hundred percent do not agree with, as at that stage it is proven that the fetus will feel pain. I feel late abortion is only acceptable if the mother’s life is being threatened or the child is already deceased. Trump’s abortion policy aligns with my perspective, as he believes abortion is only acceptable when the life of the mother is at risk, or the baby is a product of rape or incest. This is why I lean towards Trump for the abortion issue.
In the end, my ideas align more with Trump than Harris, despite not being a perfect fit for either. I would like to reiterate that I think all politicians are awful and it is impossible to find a perfect option. Nonetheless, it boils down to selecting the better option of the two, and whose policies cater most to your own beliefs. In the upcoming election, Trump is the better candidate in my eyes, and my ballot would have a check beside his name.
Price increase for groceries: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/price-of-food#:~:text=No%20single%20factor%20can%20explain,chain%20disruptions%20and%20corporate%20profits.
Price for gas: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42435#:~:text=U.S.%20average%20retail%20gasoline%20prices%20in%202019%20were%20slightly%20lower%20than%20in%202018,-Source%3A%20U.S.%20Energy&text=U.S.%20regular%20retail%20gasoline%20prices,%25)%20lower%20than%20in%202018.
Gun stances of both:
https://www.thetrace.org/2024/09/harris-trump-gun-policy-debate-president/
Abortion stances of both:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/trump-harris-abortion/
by Friedrich Rudy
Published November 4th, 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue II