This country has had a divisive political climate for some time now. In 2016, we saw an election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton who at the time, were the two most disliked and divided presidential candidates to date. This comes from 30 years of recorded polling of registered voters from ABC news. The following elections we’ve witnessed since have not been much different. The American people have not been given a choice between two candidates but between the lesser evil. This in itself is a tragedy. The two-party system in America is failing its voters. As we near the next election date, it is our responsibility to take an interest in the future of this country. 

If you have been following the presidential race you most likely tuned in to see the highly anticipated debate between Harris and Trump. There has since been much speculation on who came out on top of this debate, with both candidates claiming a win. However, this is less of a winner and loser situation and more so about who you can believe in. 

This debate mimicked an SNL sketch, having many notable and at times comical moments like the “they’re eating cats and dogs” tangent from Trump. The claim was about Haitian immigrants, and how they are supposedly eating domestic pets in Springfield, Ohio. Trump was fact-checked on this claim, as Springfield city officials have repeatedly said there have been “no credible reports” of this occurring in their city. 

Trump is using his airtime to push a baseless rumour, and generalize Haitian people to polarize immigration further, an issue that’s already a hot topic between Americans. In reality, Haitian immigration has nothing to do with domestic pets being eaten. It contributes to a larger narrative for the Republican party that has been created to polarize immigration stances. 

On the other side of the debate, Harris consistently avoided answering questions directly. This was interpreted by viewers in a negative light, and many found her question dodging annoying. She also repeatedly returned to her two main talking points; supporting women in America, and her personal ties to the middle class, which are her origins. This is a strategy Harris and her team implement, where she says less on certain issues while hammering her points on others. This strategy is rooted in a belief that if she lets Trump talk himself into circles while agitating him, he will eventually talk himself out of a presidency. So, if Kamala doesn’t do or say anything out of place, Trump will continue to make impulsive mistakes. 

Since the debate, the fact checking involved has been widely discussed. Whether you were pleased to see the candidates’ points checked, or felt it was unjust for whatever reason the main take away should be to not take everything said at face value, even if it is coming from the mouth of a Presidential candidate. And this goes both ways. It’s important to think for yourself and do your own fact checking despite the debate doing it for you. 

While discussing the economy, it is essential to fact-check both candidates’ talking points. In this issue, as with many others, there is often manipulation and intentional misinformation to misguide voters. Trump claims to have had the greatest economy during his tenure as President and promises to repeat this achievement. The Joint Economic Committee (JEC), a government entity responsible for tracking and providing information on the U.S. economy, reported that the economy was indeed strong under Trump before COVID-19. 

However, this strength began under President Obama, who inherited an economy weakened by the Great Recession; a crisis that the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve described as ‘the worst financial crisis in history, including the Great Depression.’ Over his two terms, Obama steadily rebuilt the economy, laying the foundation for the growth that Trump later continued. Contrary to Trump’s frequent claim that he ‘inherited a disaster,’ the trajectory of economic recovery was already well underway when he took office.

According to the JEC during the last two years of the Obama administration, the annual median household income increased $4,800. This is three times more than the $1,400 increase during the first two years of the Trump administration. By the end of the Obama administration, the economy had experienced 76 consecutive months of job growth. Since Trump became president, the streak has been extended to 111 consecutive months.: During the last 35 months of the Obama administration, non-farm job growth averaged 227,000 per month. During the first 35 months of the Trump administration, the average was 36,000 jobs per month less, averaging 191,000 per month. 

All of this is to illustrate a claim that is not as it seems. It’s not just important to look at issues on their surface level, but to know the history behind them and the claims surrounding them. The common democrat argument is to look at the economy fall off heavily under Trump during covid, but to the Republican defence this was a global pandemic that effected the global economy, not just America. However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Trump publicly endorsed non-medical treatments, suggesting one might inject bleach to help fight COVID. This is an issue as he is the President, and people are going to heed his advice.

Though it may be hard and a bit boring, take the time to look at the tax plan put forward by Harris. Take the time to look at the plans put forward by Trump. Research tariffs, listen to experts, draw your own conclusions. Take this seriously. Understand each candidates claims and the demographics that they discuss. Decide where you want American tax money to go. Decide if you want it to stay where it is or go other places. Think critically, and vote. 

We must consider how the policies of our next president will shape our communities, protect vulnerable populations, and safeguard the ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity. It’s crucial to think beyond our individual preferences. We must ask ourselves what kind of country do we want to leave for future generations?

Now, more than ever, its vital to be engaged in politics, to register, and to vote. Vote with purpose, and vote for what you believe in. If you have questions or are wanting to register to vote, VTSU can help you do so.