2020 Presidential Election
Bryce Banghart '21 Staff Writer
Chijokie Agbam '21 Staff Writer
With the 2020 election approaching, it is very important to know where the candidates stand on issues that affect our country. President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have different stances on health care, taxes, law enforcement and, most importantly, how they plan to combat COVID-19 in the future. They discussed all of these issues during the first presidential debate on September 30, 2020.
In regard to health care, Trump plans to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and replace it with a cheaper option: During the first presidential debate of 2020, he stated, “It’s expensive, premiums are too high, and it doesn’t work.” The President wants Obamacare gone because he believes that something ill-fated from the start cannot be run - even by his own administration. Biden, however, plans to expand Obamacare: “20 million people are getting health care through Obamacare now that [Trump] wants to take away.”
On the issue of taxes and the economy, Biden plans to propose four trillion dollars in new taxes for a decade on individuals and corporations that make more than 400,000 dollars a year. Trump states that this increase in taxes could “hurt the economy as it is just coming out of a recession.” Biden states that he plans to create more jobs and predicts that 7 million more jobs will be created than what Trump was able to accomplish in four years. Trump’s plan for taxes continues with the same free-market approach, which entails lower taxes and deregulation. Trump states that if Biden’s economic plan were to go into effect, several companies would leave, causing an economic depression with ramifications “you’ve never seen.”
In addition to the economy, the candidates differ in their approach to social justice. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others have raised questions about law enforcement. Some citizens advocate for “defunding the police” while others want more police involvement because the crime rate has increased in several cities. Biden's plan for law enforcement is to have reform and less involvement. Biden said, “What the plan would be is [police] departments don’t get funded if they don’t do the things that have to change… change the way we hold police departments accountable.” Conversely, Trump said, “I will be announcing 61 million dollars in grants to hire new great police officers under operation legend.”
During the pandemic, the United States has been the country with the highest amount of coronavirus cases and deaths: America has 5% of the world’s population but 20% of the total deaths from COVID-19. Biden proposes COVID-19 should be dealt with by closing the country until the number of COVID-19 cases can decrease and the average American citizen can recover. On the other hand, Trump advocates for opening the country’s businesses to benefit the economy.
In regard to health care, Trump plans to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and replace it with a cheaper option: During the first presidential debate of 2020, he stated, “It’s expensive, premiums are too high, and it doesn’t work.” The President wants Obamacare gone because he believes that something ill-fated from the start cannot be run - even by his own administration. Biden, however, plans to expand Obamacare: “20 million people are getting health care through Obamacare now that [Trump] wants to take away.”
On the issue of taxes and the economy, Biden plans to propose four trillion dollars in new taxes for a decade on individuals and corporations that make more than 400,000 dollars a year. Trump states that this increase in taxes could “hurt the economy as it is just coming out of a recession.” Biden states that he plans to create more jobs and predicts that 7 million more jobs will be created than what Trump was able to accomplish in four years. Trump’s plan for taxes continues with the same free-market approach, which entails lower taxes and deregulation. Trump states that if Biden’s economic plan were to go into effect, several companies would leave, causing an economic depression with ramifications “you’ve never seen.”
In addition to the economy, the candidates differ in their approach to social justice. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others have raised questions about law enforcement. Some citizens advocate for “defunding the police” while others want more police involvement because the crime rate has increased in several cities. Biden's plan for law enforcement is to have reform and less involvement. Biden said, “What the plan would be is [police] departments don’t get funded if they don’t do the things that have to change… change the way we hold police departments accountable.” Conversely, Trump said, “I will be announcing 61 million dollars in grants to hire new great police officers under operation legend.”
During the pandemic, the United States has been the country with the highest amount of coronavirus cases and deaths: America has 5% of the world’s population but 20% of the total deaths from COVID-19. Biden proposes COVID-19 should be dealt with by closing the country until the number of COVID-19 cases can decrease and the average American citizen can recover. On the other hand, Trump advocates for opening the country’s businesses to benefit the economy.