ON THE ISSUES
May 18, 2016
Donald Trump
With the U.S. under a $19 trillion debt, Donald Trump has voiced opposition to providing military support in European countries while receiving nothing in return. He does, however, want to dismantle Iran’s global terror network and send 30,000 combat troops to wipe out ISIS troops.
Following a mostly conservative agenda, Trump wants to continue military defense spending, but desires to focus his efforts on terrorism rather than on a missile defense system. Trump plans on reworking trade deals and agreements with European countries in hopes of negotiating terms for reimbursement. The controversial candidate is especially concerned with the recently signed Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement among 12 countries to advocate free trade by eliminating tariffs. Trump views the trade deal as an opportunity for foreign manufacturers to dominate the world market, which would cause many Americans in manufacturing businesses to lose their jobs. More specifically, Trump fears the joining of China into the partnership, a country that he believes already has stolen much of America’s money and jobs. Trump then proposes to raise tariffs in order to protect American industries.
As for domestic policies, he wants to lower taxes but acknowledges it is unfair that the extremely wealthy are paying virtually no taxes.
Trump, as with all the other candidates, is especially worried with the seemingly unpayable federal debt, which very soon may exceed $20 trillion. To stem the increase of the debt, Trump plans on cutting down government spending significantly.
One of the most consistent aspects in Trump’s campaign is his stance on immigration. Besides proposing the securing of the border between the U.S. and Mexico, he believes that all 11 million undocumented immigrants should be deported back to their countries of origin.
The candidate also associates immigration with jobs, as he claims that he will bring jobs back when illegal immigrants are deported.
He has also opposed birthright citizenship to the children of these illegal immigrants.
Hillary Clinton
As the former Secretary of State, Clinton is arguably the most experienced in dealing with foreign affairs. Clinton is very focused with the war against ISIS. Differing herself from candidate Bernie Sanders, Clinton wants increased involvement in the war, more specifically wanting America to more heavily support and arm partners to defeat terrorism.
Similar to Trump, Clinton wants to increase military spending to “maintain the best-trained, best-equipped, and strongest military the world has ever known” in order to establish America’s leadership in the world.
Also, like Trump, Clinton is very opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Although she was an advocate of the plan at first, she later became disillusioned upon seeing the potential consequences of the agreement. Clinton doesn’t believe that American manufacturers and industries have enough protection to compete with foreign competition.
As to her view on China, Clinton sees the relationship as very complex and challenging. She is cautious about giving China any opportunity to exploit trade agreements.
Clinton proposes to keep the tax system and rates the same with an addition to tax cuts for the middle class. Just like Sanders, she believes that big corporations pay too little taxes and are not paying their fair share. She then proposes to eliminate tax loopholes for the wealthy and plans to implement free community college and a “debt-free” four year college.
Clinton has strongly stated that she would not deport any immigrants in the U.S. back to Mexico if she were to be elected president. She has also proposed that undocumented residents should be able to become naturalized citizens.
Moreover, the candidate would also allow undocumented immigrants to “buy into Obamacare” and would also create the “first ever Office of Immigration Affairs.”
Clinton has encouraged to continue to enforce what Obama has done in regard to his executive actions on immigration.
Bernie Sanders
Unlike Clinton, Bernie Sanders believes that only a coalition can stop ISIS, but that America should not take the lead in the war. He is especially concerned that the war on ISIS would have similar consequences to the war on Iraq. Sanders would pursue a policy of diplomacy, and would enter war only as a last resort.
He encourages communicating with enemies, such as Iran, and wishes to negotiate peace between the Saudis and Iran. Sanders is opposed to overthrowing dictators, warning of the consequences that would follow. Furthermore, Sanders will continue the NATO alliance and wants to strengthen forces against Russian aggression.
In regards to trade, Sanders takes a stronger stance than his competitors against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he believes would destroy American manufacturers. In addition, Sanders wishes to develop completely new policies in dealing with China. Like his competitors, Sanders sees China as a very detrimental trade partner that has already cost millions of American jobs.
Wanting to create a more economically stable middle and lower class, Sanders wishes to break up big banks, which he sees as overrun with greed and power. His plan also involves a graduated income tax, proposing to significantly raise taxes on the rich.
More specifically, he plans to increase the tax rate of people who make over 10 million annually to a staggering 52 percent. He also plans to create an increase of 2.2 percent to all tax brackets in our current system.
With this tax plan, Sanders hopes to garner enough revenue to fund social programs, like universal health care, and to pay for public colleges.
Sanders, like Clinton, proposes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. The candidate has also previously encouraged President Obama’s plan about deportation relief.
Unlike his opponent, however, Sanders plans to expand on what Obama has done in relation to immigration, instead of just enforcing it. He has also called himself an advocate in “uniting people’s families and not dividing them,” in terms of immigration.
