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A Concise Guide To The 2016 Election

Educate yourself

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A Concise Guide To The 2016 Election
The Boston Globe

During election season, the phrase "It's your duty to vote" gets thrown around a lot. But, the truth of the matter is that many Americans do not have the time to educate themselves on the issues and therefor are not properly informed. Though it is not much, here are four important issues and two candidates stance on them. (I am a very opinionated person, but I will try to be unbiased for the sake of democracy.)

Education

Clinton has expressed in her first 100 days plan that she will make college debt-free for everyone and will allow Americans to refinance their loans for current student debt. Although not a top priority, Clinton also wants to incorporate computer science into K-12 education, rebuild American schools, and reform overly punitive disciplinary schools.

Trump has no plans for education reform laid out on his campign webside. However, he has publically expressed his dislike for Common Core. Trump believes programs like Common Core, No Child Left Behind, and Race to the Top indoctrinate, not educate children. Trump wants to cut Department of Education spending and bring decisions back to parents.

Gender Equality

Clinton is a firm supporter of equal rights for men and women. As president, she will work to close the pay gap, fight for paid leave, stand with planned parenthood, and confront violence against women. She is pro-abortion and wants to make child care affordable for families. Clinton is also an advocate for the LBGTQ community. She has made clear on several occasions that she wants full federal equality for LGBTQ Americans.

Trump has stated he is pro-life and will defund Planned Parenthood. He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, however he did denounce North Carolina's ban on using a bathroom not according to a person's birth gender. Trump also said he has nurtered lifelong friendships with gay people and has employed them too.

Immigration

Clinton will introduce her immigration reform in the first 100 days. This plan will fix the family visa backlog and bring millions of hard working immigrants into the economy. She believes that immigration laws should be humane and that we should only detain/deport those individuals who pose a threat to society. Therefor all refugees who seek asylum in the US can remain and have thier stories be heard.

Trump has said a nation without borders is not a nation, and therefor will push for creating a wall on the US southern border. Trump wants to enhance the penalty for visa overstays and will detain illegal aliens rather than practicing the current "catch-and-release" system. A radical difference in his plan is the termination of birth-right citizenship for children of illegal aliens. He says this will eliminate a huge magnet for illegal immigration.

Second Amendment Rights

Clinton is more strict on guns than her counterpart. As president, she will expand background checks and close the loopholes of gun shows and internet sales. She wants military-style guns off the streets as well. Clinton will support laws that stop domestic abusers, violent criminals, and severely mentally ill from obtaining or owning a weapon.

Trump is more lenient on guns than Clinton is. He agrees that the mental health system is broken and the records of those individuals are not updated, but wants to issue a national right to carry so that concealed carry permits are valid in every state, not just the one you reside in. Because background records are not updated, Trump believes stricter background checks will only expand a broken system.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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