Need help voting? Here are Trump and Biden’s opinions towards standard issues within the United States
Many Americans have voted or are still waiting to cast their vote. Do you need a little help deciding on who to vote for? Here are presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s opinions towards many matters within our country.
Gun Control:
Biden:
- Back in 1994, as a senator, he helped pass a federal law that prohibited assault weapons. However, it expired in 2004 and has not been renewed by Congress. Currently, Biden is trying to prohibit the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He also plans to ban the importation of assault weapons and institute a Buy Back Program.
Trump:
- Trump argues that manipulating gun control laws would not help to decrease the rate of crime or deter violence. He claims that Americans have the right to protect their homes, families, and themselves.
Should federal taxes be increased?
Biden:
- The Biden Plan will rid capital gains tax loopholes for the super-wealthy. Today, the wealthy pay a tax rate of just 20% on long-term capital gains which is the sale of an investment that has been owned longer than 12 months. As President, Biden would roll back the Trump tax rate cut for the very rich back to the 39.6% rate. The Biden Plan would assure those who make over $1 million will pay the top rate on capital gains, which doubles the tax rate on the super-wealthy.
Trump:
- Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Dec. 22, 2017. It cut individual income tax rates, doubled standard deduction, eliminated personal exemptions, dropped the top individual tax rate to 37%, and corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018.
Environmental Issues:
Biden:
- Biden believes there is no greater challenge facing our country and our world than our “climate emergency.” He has been outlining a plan, a clean energy revolution, to address what he calls a grave threat and led the world in addressing the climate emergency. Biden believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face. It focuses on two aspect which are at the core of his plan: 1. The United States needs to embrace greater ambition of an epic scale to meet the scope of this challenge. 2. The environment and our economy are completely and totally connected.
Trump:
- Trump argues that the United States should not risk our own jobs in order to lead the world on the environment. He wants to focus on more practical things than what is written in the Green New Deal which he estimates will cost the economy nearly $100 trillion. He claims millions of jobs will be destroyed, the hopes of the poorest Americans will be shattered, and minority communities will be damaged. He said that we’re going to defend the environment, but we’re going to defend sovereignty, stability, and American employment as well.
Should the U.S. continue to build a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico Border?
Biden:
- Biden had formerly voted in support of the border by voting for the Secure Fence Act to prevent the trafficking of drugs across the border. He also stated that it was necessary in conjunction with the punishment for American employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
- However, in January of 2019, he has moved more toward the position of that the wall is not the border security that we need.
Trump:
- During his presidency, Trump presented Congress with a detailed proposal to secure the border and stop the criminal gangs, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. This proposal included $5.7 billion for a physical barrier made of steel. Trump believes the border wall will pay for itself. The cost of illegal drugs exceeds $500 billion a year and it will also be paid for indirectly by the new trade deal made with Mexico.
Immigration:
Biden:
- His goal is to pursue a humane immigration policy that keeps families together, strengthens our economy, and secures our border. As Vice President, Joe Biden backed immigration reform and the Obama-Biden Administration created the DACA Program so those who were brought to the U.S. as children and did not have citizenship could have lives free from the risk of deportation. Biden also led the administration’s work with Central America. It secured $750 million to boost prosperity and security in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. As President, Biden plans to reform immigration laws. He plans to give 11 million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship.
Trump:
- The Supreme Court ruled in June of 2020 that the Trump Administration cannot fulfill its plan to shut down the DACA program. Trump believes in the process of issuing green cards which has been in place since 1970 and has extended citizenship to 40 million people. He believes that is the correct path to citizenship. He doesn’t believe in extending leniency to those who illegally come into the country.
Should transgender people be allowed to serve in the military?
Biden:
- Joe Biden does not believe that any person should have to choose between serving the country or their own gender identity. He believes transgender men and women should be able to do anything anybody else is able to do.
Trump:
- In July 2017, Trump supported a policy change that no transgender people would be allowed to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military. This is due to the medical costs and disruption that transgenders in the military would entail. The policy change went into effect in April 2019. This made it a requirement to serve as your birth gender.
Should abortion be legal?
Biden:
- Biden is pro-choice and plans to expand access to contraception and to protect the constitutional right to an abortion. He wants to reverse the government’s assault on a woman’s right to choose. Biden wants to do what he can to stop state laws that he says violates the constitutional right to an abortion.
Trump:
- Trump is strongly pro-life with three exceptions: rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother. He feels we have come a long way in the court system and a new, positive attitude about the right to life has come across the nation. He strongly opposes the left for their support for late term abortion.
So, what do Biden and Trump actually agree on?
- Support for paid Family & Medical Leave
- The government should regulate social media for fake news and misinformation.
- Against the government providing Universal Childcare
- The U.S. should expand the use of Nuclear Power
- Against a Medicare-For-All Healthcare System (for their own reasons)
The 2020 Election is a very controversial election where many opinions are going left and right. Use this as a guide towards your vote!
