Amidst the dramatic changes that the U.S has undergone in the last couple months, the 2020 presidential election remains ongoing. Only two presidential candidates remain standing: President Donald Trump and Mr. Joe Biden, but how these candidates plan on handling pressing issues will ultimately determine who will settle in the White House.
Trump
Immigration
Since his campaign in 2016, Trump has made multiple promises to reduce illegal immigration. He incorporated a “zero-tolerance” policy that enabled the criminal prosecution of suspected illegal border-crossers that resulted in family separations. It is reported that “Nearly 3,000 children were separated from their parents”according to HRW.com. Trump took the measures of declaring a national emergency to obtain funding for a wall on the southern border between Mexico and the U.S. In his efforts to decrease illegal immigration, the statistics support that in the past several years there has been an overall decrease according to PEW Research.
The president has also proposed incorporating a “merit-based” system that would only allow migrants with certain expertise in the job market to enter the U.S. This would dramatically reform the immigration policy since it would no longer allow those with family ties to come.
Economy
Improving the economy has been a focal point for Trump. In effort to decrease the trade gap, Trump emphasizes the importance of creating more deals with leading trading partners. Through this implementation there are also tariffs on Chinese imports. Also, the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico has been contracted again.
Under Trump’s administration, the economy has gradually grown. In the last couple of years the economy has grown around 2-3 percent and job growth has matched how it was under President Obama, according to MarketsInsdier . In particular, manufacturing jobs have increased. The coal industry has also seen significant improvement. The stock market has also benefited. Trump claims that the economy is the “best” in U.S history.
Health Care
The reform on healthcare has been broad and centered on a few key points. The goal to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a new health care system is still in place. Some modifications include eradicating individual mandates and subsidies. This in turn will help those with low-income afford health insurance. The new system that would replace Obama-care would restrict the government’s role and give more choice for healthcare. To further counteract the Affordable Care Act, states now have the authority to place work requirements on those with Medicaid. This is done in hopes of reducing Medicaid spending.
Foreign Policy
In his pledge to “Make America Great Again,” Trump believes the country should only be involved in global affairs that would benefit America’s economic interests. He also believes the U.S. should play a leadership role in global affairs. He advocates for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to spend more on defense instead of relying on the U.S to provide it financially. About 70% of defense spending is contributed by the U.S according to BBC. Trump did fulfill his promise to withdraw the U.S from the Iran nuclear deal in order for Iran to suspend its program in uranium enrichment. This also meant that economic sanctions were lifted, but it created tensions between America’s allies and Tehran. However, Trump did change his view about not being an active participant in wars in the Middle East. Instead of turning away from being involved in the Syrian Civil War, he actually ordered strikes on Syria. After withdrawing troops from Syria, he decided to keep several troops there for peacekeeping.
Social Issues
Trump holds conservative views in regards to abortion. Under his administration, the Department of Health and Human Services banned federally funded clinics from making referrals for abortion. Also, there have been restrictions placed for federal research that uses fetal tissue. In efforts to reduce abortion, Trump has replaced pro-choice Supreme Court Justices, like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, with conservative ones. He hopes to overturn Roe v. Wade to make abortion an illegal practice.
There has been a specific shift of focus to religious freedom in place of civil rights. This only adds to the critiques about his lack of support for minorities. During his presidential campaign, Trump promised that he would protect LGBTQ citizens. However, since taking office he has reversed President Obama’s transgender student guidance. This protected transgender students from discrimination. Also, the transgender Plaintiff Gavin Grimm’s case was removed from the Supreme Court’s schedule according to npr.
Energy and Climate Change
The U.S withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement shortly after Trump took office. The agreement is based on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. However, the withdrawal will not occur until the following presidential election. He also plans on eliminating the Clean Power Plan, which proposes shifting states to use renewable energy. On the other hand, he is a promoter for oil, gas, and coal production. He recently finalized plans for opening public land to oil and gas drilling.
Biden
Immigration
Being a strong opponent of Trump’s reformed immigration policy, Mr. Biden will reverse it. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will be reestablished along with a program to help undocumented immigrants receive citizenship. In place of Trump’s criminal prosecution for all illegal border crossings, Mr. Biden will implement a 100-day moratorium on deportations. Only those who are charged with a serious crime will be deported. However, to accomplish a comprehensive immigration reform would require that Democrats would have to hold the House. Immigration would have to become an immediate legislative priority and many lawmakers feel it is best to diverge from a comprehensive reform to more bipartisan actions.
Economy
During his campaign, Mr. Biden has emphasized helping the middle class. He mentioned how “This country . . . was built by the American middle class.” Countries with an advanced economy consist of a larger and stable middle class, which is what Mr. Biden envisions the U.S having. He pledges to reduce spending in the next decade by $1 trillion and wants to raise the tax code by $600 billion according to the White House.
Health Care
Mr. Biden, on the contrary of the popular view of the Democratic Party, does not support a universal government-run program. In place of “Medicare for all,” he believes that the U.S should have a private insurance system. This new system would include the option of Medicare for all individuals that need it so it is not completely eliminated from the system. In addition, an increase in tax credits would be awarded for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. However, the effect that the public plan would have on employer-based health insurance causes limits. Large employers cannot buy into the public option and employees cannot use the income from their employers to buy into the public option.
Foreign Policy
Mr. Biden speaks out against China for its abusive trade practices and claims that Trump’s current approach of imposing tariffs is not efficient. He plans on expanding the defense budget and increasing U.S. naval presence in the Asia-Pacific, paving the way for the U.S to be known as a Pacific Power. He will also deepen relationships with countries like Japan, Australia, and Indonesia to show China that the U.S. will not retreat.
Social Issues
Naming the Equality Act as a “Top legislative priority”, Mr. Biden pledges to protect the LGBTQ community. The Equality Act will ensure that LGBTQ individuals are not discriminated specifically within employment, housing, education, public spaces and federally funded programs, etc. However, he did vote for the Defense Against Marriage Act in 1996. His history has been inconsistent in regards to supporting the LGBTQ community. He has also switched sides multiple times when it comes to abortion. Last year he expressed support of the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortions unless it is to save the life of a woman, but then opposed it. He also mentioned how a woman does not have a “Sole right to say what should happen to her body” after Roe v. Wade was enacted according to the New York Times.
Climate Change
The battle against climate change is a priority for Mr. Biden. He advocates for a plan that endorses 100 percent carbon-free energy and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Fossil fuels would not be eliminated immediately, but instead gradually declining in usage. Fossil fuels subsidies would end and clean energy would replace it. Mr. Biden also envisions supporting federal funding for carbon capture and sequestration programs to reduce carbon gas emissions.
