Your Vote Can Be The Next Big Change!

By Andrew Cohen

It is the fall of 2024. . . that means it is election time! After losing an incredibly close election in 2020 to current president Joe Biden, Donald Trump is back again representing the Republican Party. On July 21, our country heard shocking news: Joe Biden dropped out of the election. Current Vice President, Kamala Harris, is now running against Trump as the Democratic nominee. If elected, Harris will become the first female president of the United States. Here are short biographies to familiarize you with the candidates.

Born in Oakland, California, Harris is a first generation American; her mother from southern India, and her father from Jamaica. Harris went to Howard University to study economics and political science, and later attended the Hastings College of the Law at the University of California. Harris built a career advocating for equal rights for all as the District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California. She continued to ascend in politics, becoming a Senator in 2017 and Vice President in 2021. She made history, becoming the first Black American woman and the first Asian American to hold that office. Now, she is looking to break those barriers again as President.

Trump was born in Queens, New York, where he attended the New York Military Academy for high school. Following that, Trump spent his first two years of college at Fordham University, and then transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Since then, Trump’s entire career has been focused on business until he became President in 2017. Trump spent most of his career working at his father’s real estate company, Trump Management, which was later renamed Trump Organization. He gained more publicity when he hosted the reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” Additionally, he held partial and full ownership of several beauty pageants from 1996 - 2005. Trump was elected President 10 years later in 2016, making him the first President to have no previous political or military experience.

The election is a captivating time in our country that can evoke strong emotions. There are only a few students at North Shore Country Day that can vote in the upcoming election. Here’s a look at how two of of our voting-age seniors are feeling:

One student stated their priorities are the protection of abortion rights and protection of Jewish rights. This student wants a candidate who will be a president for the people who is dedicated and thoughtful. This student is confident in voting for the candidate that best supports these rights. Another student has watched the debates, yet still feels like there is much to learn about the candidates. Politicians speak about a variety of complex topics and it is sometimes difficult to follow. Regardless of the winner, this student is optimistic that the next President will improve opportunities for college students and recent graduates.

A primary — and very valid concern of many citizens is the state of the economy. Will inflation continue? Are homes too expensive? Are jobs available, and if so, will they even pay enough? Let's take a look at the candidates’ economic proposals:

Starting off with Harris: She strongly supports increasing citizens’ economic security by investing in infrastructure, guaranteeing assistance for first-time home buyers, reducing taxes for the 100 million working class Americans, and lowering the cost of basic necessities like healthcare and groceries. To create more jobs, Harris calls for bringing together organized labor, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to discuss how to expand job opportunities with solid pay and “ensure that America continues to lead the world.” On the other hand, Trump aims to “end inflation and make America affordable again” without giving many specifics. He also claims he will decrease interest rates — a power held by the Head of the Federal Reserve, not the President. Furthermore, Trump believes that deporting all undocumented immigrants will take weight off of the housing concern for citizens, reasoning that less demand would lead to lower prices. Trump often points out that during his first term, inflation was low.

Remember, every vote matters. You determine our future. It is crucial to understand the mindset and goals of each candidate before your vote can be the next big change!