The presidential election is almost here! Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd. This election has seemed to polarize the country’s citizens and these differing opinions also appear in school. Two Kingsway juniors shared their thoughts. One is an avid Joe Biden supporter and one is an avid Donald Trump supporter. Margot Jones (blue text) was the Biden supporter and Joey Miranda (red text) was the Trump supporter. Both students had the same questions and were allotted the same amount of time to answer the questions. 

1.) In one sentence, explain why your candidate is the best option.

Vice President Joe Biden is the best candidate for this country because he will implement more effective COVID precautions to keep Americans safe, restore the American economy, help lower-income Americans gain access to better healthcare, and re-establish the global reputation of the U.S.

I feel like Trump is the best candidate because he cut down on taxes, he passed many laws that benefited minorities, and he created many new jobs throughout industries like manufacturing. 

2.)How do you think the coronavirus outbreak was handled? Should the failures and/or the success of the response be credited to President Trump?

The pandemic was not handled well at all, and this failure should most definitely be attributed to the direct actions of the current president. Since the beginning of this year, President Trump has consistently downplayed the virus, stating that it doesn’t affect most of the population and that one day it will “disappear.’’ In addition, President Trump has repeatedly made claims about the country’s cases that are simply untrue, saying that cases are going down and that America’s response is unmatched, while real statistics show the opposite. While it was not his fault that the virus came to the U.S. in the first place, the blatant disregard for American health and safety have worsened the situation significantly.

I feel like the outbreak was handled incorrectly by many people worldwide. I feel like neither success nor failure should be pointed at him. He was told misinformation through the WHO and China. I feel it was also unsuccessful because 7-8 months later we still have to wear masks in school. 

Do you believe Vice President Biden’s health should be questioned leading up to the election as much as it has been by the conservative media?

Vice President Biden’s health has been under immense scrutiny by Conservative media with seemingly no reason other than the defense of the current president. Several sources, including President Trump himself, have made baseless claims that Vice President Biden hasDementia, and is therefore unfit to be president. There is absolutely no proof of this statement, and it appears to be a claim based on his older age of 77, which is laughable, considering the fact that President Trump is 74, a very similar age to Biden

Biden’s health should be questioned because the role of the president is to lead our country. If he cannot make decisions or perform his duties because of a problem relating to health, then I feel like he is unfit for the job. 

Why do you think the opposing candidate is not right for our country?

While there are plenty of negative aspects to President Trump’s character, including 26 sexual assault allegations and harmful views against marginalized groups and women, he has proven time and time again to make poor political decisions. He pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which has disastrous effects on the global climate crisis. He also put the entire immigration system into chaos by enforcing a Muslim ban, as well as separating children that is harmful and offensive to so many marginalized groups. He consistently handled police brutality against African Americans and the Black Lives Matter protests incredibly poorly. Not only did he criticize the Black Lives Matter activist group, but even went so far as to refuse to condemn white supremacist groups in the first Presidential Debate.

I do not feel like he is right for the job because in the 44 years he held a position in the government, he did little to nothing to help America. 

Do you support the party your candidate is running with as well as your preferred candidate?

Yes, I support the Democratic Party, as well as Vice President Joe Biden.

I support the party more because I do not have the same beliefs as the democrats. Also, I like him as the president, not as a person outside the office.

Is there another candidate from your candidate’s party that you would have preferred?

While there were several other great Democratic candidates, such as Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg, I believe that Joe Biden is the most likely to be elected out of the other Democrats because of his solid establishment in the party, and he presented more moderately in the primary to gain support before slowly shifting further left.

I feel like Trump is the most qualified candidate for this election because in his previous 4 years he proved himself to be a worthy candidate. 

Why do you think it is important for our generation to get involved in politics?

It is absolutely crucial for our generation to not only politically educate ourselves, but also to become involved in politics when we are adults. We are in the thick of one of the most polarized political climates in America’s history, and a fresh perspective by Generation Z would absolutely be beneficial. Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in America, as well as being the most well-adjusted to technology and social media. Our generation is also on track to be the most educated generation, with lower levels of high school dropouts and much higher levels of college enrollment than previous generations. This era will be a long chapter in the history books, so it’s important that we educate ourselves and help in any way we can.

I feel like it is important to get involved in politics because in two years we will be able to vote. We should understand the basics of what is going on for the next following years. We should also know what’s happening around the world and in our country.