The leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler, and the politics are getting heated. You know what time of year it is already: election day is upon us, and as you know, the political pool is boiling with some controversial candidates. As you mull over who you are considering running our country and taking the title of commander in chief, think about the following considerations: In what ways is this candidate going to impact me and the people I love? How is this candidate going to affect my values and beliefs? My faith? How is this candidate going to affect my life personally? My everyday life; my family; my friends? What is this candidate’s foreign policy? How will this candidate affect Supreme Court decisions?
Think about how each presidential candidate will affect the country based on values held by the Christian faith. (If you are not a Christian, think about the values that you hold most importantly.) None of the candidates are born-again Christians, but their domestic policies and specific issue stances should align with yours. Donald Trump supports pro-life legislation, is against same-sex marriage, and is willing to protect Christians in different parts of the world, as well as the United States. Trump has continuously spoken of a wall he will build if elected. He wants some kind of barrier between the United States and Mexico. Hillary Clinton supports pro-choice legislation, same-sex marriage, and opening our borders. Trump wants immigration to be a legal process with background checks and citizenship tests. Clinton wants to make the immigration process easier for incoming refugees and immigrants.
Gary Johnson presents yet another list of stances to consider. He supports pro-choice legislation, supports same-sex marriage, and believes in creating a more efficient system of immigration. Although he supports same-sex marriage, he believes that churches should be allowed the right to refuse same-sex ceremonies.
Do you own a gun? Do want to be able to keep it and use it, or turn it into the government? Donald Trump supports the second amendment right to keep and bear arms. Hillary Clinton believes in gun control reforms such as background checks and closing loopholes. Gary Johnson says that the current process of purchasing a gun should only be changed for criminals.
One important issue to consider will affect all of our lives. That issue is taxes. Is this candidate going to raise taxes, keep them the same, or lower them? How will these changes affect my budget? According to time.com, single and married joint filers earning up to $23,000 a year would have an average tax cut of $128, or 0.9% under Trump’s tax plan. That same income group under the Clinton plan would see an average tax increase of $4, or 0.1%. Gary Johnson’s tax plan would eliminate income tax, corporate tax, and abolish the IRS. It would all be replaced with a federal consumption tax, called FairTax, which enacts a flat 23% tax on new goods and services for personal consumption.
Just because an individual has a history of poor character does not mean that are incapable of creating good policy. A person with a history of creating horrible policy is incapable of creating good policy once elevated to a higher office. To make a well-educated decision, regarding this election, will take more than simply relying on the sound bites circulated by the media. To make a sound decision, voters must look at the past actions of each candidate, do their research, and educate themselves. One candidate has a long history of policy plunders, not fulfilling campaign promises, and saying whatever it takes to get elected. The other has no policy creation experience, but that does not disqualify that candidate from potentially creating good policy, regardless of character flaws.
Do you want a president that tells the hard truth or lies to save face? Look beyond poor word choice and select a candidate that you believe is trustworthy and can create good policy to help restore America. Research your local candidates, and local issues. Find your sample ballot so you can sort through the clutter, and decide for yourself which candidate's policy will help create jobs, decrease the national debt, and protect American interests abroad. Think about which candidate will make your (and other Americans’) future brighter. Then vote with this in mind, rather than with what the media has told you to believe about each candidate. This will ensure the most well-fit candidate of the remaining makes it into the oval office in January.
