Presidential Election Live: Top Issues Raised by Presidential Election Nominees(2016) to Grab the Attention over Citizens
US Presidential Election is just around the corner, and the issues presidential candidates have taken has caught the limelight of the people. America suffered its worst recession a few years back, thanks to Obama as issues were solved. But the big question is what the concerns raised by US Presidential Election Nominees to grab the attention of citizens and people worldwide are?
Top Major Issues Raised by the Candidates:
1.Economy:
The US economy is right where it belongs after suffering from the 2008-2009 recession. Obama’s government has managed to deliver jobs as employment rates have risen continuously. However, wealth inequality remains a matter of concern today, and the nation is facing a tremendous challenge to widening the gap between the rich and poor.
Caption: Gallup Poll Series (Survey conducted in April 2015) and the United States Department of Labor(2012)
Source: kqed.org
Republicans, however, has raised a question about maintaining wage at $7.25/hour since 2009 as they believe it would have negative responses resulting in forcing more jobs overseas. For a matter of fact, Donald Trump is the only Republican candidate who has caught everyone’s attention on tax reform and calling it to raise taxes for who are wealthy and ending loopholes for hedge funds which are being proceeded.
On the other hand, Democrats have supported in raising the minimum wage. Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders have proposed to double the minimum wage to $15/hour and that by 2020 whereas Hillary Clinton proposed it to be $12 as she says the nation cannot afford it. Democrats also believe that wealthy needs to pay more taxes to stop Wall Street banking firms and to end loopholes.
2.Gun Control:
You won’t believe when we say there have been more than 350 mass shootings this year only with more than one per day. The rate of gun deaths in the US is higher than any other top countries in the world. A mass shooting in early December in 2015, where more than 14 people were killed at San Bernardino, CA in a service center has raised a question on how should US control gun violence.
Republicans have shown a keen interest in defending 2nd amendment rights. Donald Trump said on September 27, 2016, to the Huffington Post.
“I have the endorsement of the NRA, which I’m very proud of, these are very, very good people, and they are protecting the Second Amendment. But I think we have to look very strongly at no-fly-lists and watch lists.”
All the Democrats candidates are pushing for one thing and one thing only i.e. stricter background screening procedures for gun purchasing as well as a ban on assault weapons. Hillary said on January 30, 2016, in Ames, Iowa.
“The actions we take can certainly be done consistent with the Constitution and the right of gun owners,”
She added.
“That has never been a shadow of doubt unless you’re a paid lobbyist for the gun lobby.”
3. Terrorism:
More than 80% of votes believe that issue of terrorism will be one of the important issues to their vote and rightly so. That issue was only 68% in 2010 but drastically rose to 80% by 2016.
This matter has become more serious after bomb attacks on New York City on September of 2016. Hillary has made her case strong in this case as she termed Trump as:
“ he is a dangerous demagogue whose inflammatory rhetoric puts the nation at further risk.”
Clinton’s chance in this issue is slightly high as voters trust her over Trump when the matter is of terrorism and national security. Clinton has called herself
“the only candidate in this race who has been part of the hard decisions to take terrorists off the battlefield.”
Trump meanwhile has responded on Facebook, saying
Clinton “has emboldened terrorists all over the world to attack the U.S., even on our own soil,” adding that terrorists “are hoping and praying that Hillary Clinton becomes president — so that they can continue their savagery and murder.”
4.Immigration:
Immigration is one of the most diverse issues on the whole election campaign. The US is one of the best destination for immigrants from across the globe as it attracts approximately 20 percent of world’s population. More than 41 million immigrants live in the US which is 13% of world’s population. Out of those 11.3 million unauthorized without legal status.
More than half of Republican voters believe in deporting all immigrants who are residing illegally as well as banning Syrian refugee to enter the United States. It is the truth that significantly helps Donald trump’s campaign as presidential election date looms.
On the other hand, all three Democratic Candidates oppose mass deportation which was the same issues raised by Republicans and also support citizenship for unauthorized immigrants. Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley have both proposed upping the ante and also importing up to 65,000 refugees from Syria.
5.National defense:
The threat of terrorism seems to be looming, and it is one of the major issues in this campaign in the wake of Islamic State (ISIS), a rise of Syrian conflict and attack in Paris recently. The majority of Americans believe the rise of ISIS a national threat and 57% of the people oppose sending U.S. ground troops back into Iraq, according to a survey.
Republicans have proposed an aggressive response to ISIS with the use of Military force. Moreover, Republicans oppose Obama’s nuclear deal as they believe it as a disaster for America and have weakened relationship with Middle Eastern allies.
Hillary Clinton had her roles as Secretary of State during President Obama’s regime in the first term and is the most antagonistic of the Democratic candidates who is advocating for more U.S. involvement in overseas and foreign policies. She argues that we American should have acted proactively and should have fought back aggressively to stop the rise of ISIS in Syria.
As the countdown has begun and the result will soon be known to the world, it looks like there will be close competition among the rivals, especially Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. It will be interesting to witness how these two handles these issues. No doubt delivering on promises will be a major challenge for newly elected President.