Hamburglar.
This article is one half of the two piece opinion page. To read the alternate viewpoint, please click here.
I would like to begin by stating that both the presidential candidates for this election are embarrassing representatives of our beautiful and progressive country. Neither candidate can be deemed to have high morals or a level of respect for others that this country deserves. That being said, the question voters had to ask themselves during the election was: Which one of the candidates is the lesser of two evils?
To many Americans, Donald Trump was the clear choice because they believe that over the next four years, his policies will benefit our country the most. The American public is looking for change, something that Donald Trump will provide.
The United States is currently almost twenty trillion dollars in debt, according to the National Debt Clock. President Barack Obama added significantly to that number, according to Politifact. As a result, some of the policies that really stood out to Americans were Trump’s promises of lowered taxes and more available jobs. Many people believe that in voting for Trump, they were preserving the concept of the American dream of owning a home, raising a family, and retiring at a decent age. Unfortunately, Americans have felt that this dream has become less and less practical, and that their voices have been muted over the past few years. Trump seemed to be the candidate who would best stand up for the working class amidst the people’s search for change.
Currently, our weak borders and free trade policies are allowing for companies to move to countries like Mexico so that their products can be made at cheaper rates, allowing the companies to make more money. However, this is causing a large number of Americans to lose their jobs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, some 682,900 jobs had already been lost by 2011 as a result of companies moving abroad. According to the Washington Post, thousands of other companies have gone out of business over the past decade due to the overwhelming competition as a result of outsourcing. Trump promises to stop this cycle and to bring American companies back to America, restoring the many jobs that have been lost.
One of Donald Trump’s most debated policies is that of immigration. Trump says that “a nation without borders is not a nation.” According to Pew Research, there were 11.1 million illegal immigrants in 2014. Currently, according to Politifact, there are 47 million Americans living in poverty, 43 million of whom are living off of food stamps. America cannot afford to house any more people, especially those that are entering our country illegally. Trump will ensure that the only people entering our country are those who do it legally with the hope of living the American dream and assimilating. The reason Trump points to Mexico in a lot of cases is not because he hates Mexico, but because, according to Pew Research, 52 percent of America’s illegal immigrants in 2014 came from Mexico, and that is a problem that needs to be addressed. Though Trump’s policies on immigration are very attractive to many Americans, his comments and insensitive language towards Mexicans and other groups are not to be excused.
The bottom line is that Donald Trump is a fresh voice in the White House. If Hillary Clinton had been elected president, people would be relying on someone who has shown herself to be unsuccessful politically, unstable with her beliefs, and continuously untrustworthy. The people who voted for Trump voted for the president they felt they could better trust.
After such a sensitive and unexpected election, all Americans have shared different views on their concerns or excitement for the future of our country. The truth is that none of us really knows how the next four years are going to play out. With Clinton, many people saw voting for her as a safe vote because she would most likely just continue upon the path of Obama. However, Trump’s different policies and his style as a leader will no doubt provide the change that the people want. As always, the important task for Americans is to be watchful and continue to make our voices heard, but for now, we must give our president elect a chance to do his best.