Three of our seniors, Christian, Lucas, and Nathan, decided to write a short article about the presidential candidate they support most. While of course the political scene is changing every day, these articles reflect the opinions of these seniors in early March. Each of the seniors chose a different candidate to write about, so you are sure to find a new position that may be interesting to you. Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see the most… unique position of them all.
Nathan – Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders is a very progressive candidate which I believe is necessary in our changing world. Some of Bernie’s overarching goals once in the presidency are to better distribute wealth, improve programs for the lower class, and support equality. These are done through wealth taxes, trust-breaking, raising the minimum wage, Medicare for all, public school improvements, and even allowing prisoners to vote. A few more specific policy changes that I agree with Bernie on are cutting military spending, removing the electoral college, and putting into place government regulations on carbon emissions. For more about Bernie and other candidates, I found berniesanders.com and politico.com to be really helpful websites.
Christian – Pete Buttigieg
I support Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 Democratic presidential race. Now, it may seem like a shallow-minded choice; after all, he is a fellow Hoosier and was mayor of a city just a few miles away. But I support Pete for many more reasons than simply where he grew up, and I truly believe that he would make the best president out of the Democrats that are running.
First off, I feel most represented by Pete. This primarily has to do with age. I am young, and Pete is young, and the rest of the competitive field is 59 to 78 years old. The current frontrunner, Bernie Sanders, is among the oldest in the group. He will have his 79th birthday this September, two months before the general election. I simply don’t feel represented by someone that is that far away from me in age. Some distance is comfortable, but I am much more likely to support someone who can understand what my life is like and can relate to my experiences. Pete is a proud millennial, and I think his young age is one of his greatest assets.
Second, I appreciate his takes on policies across the board in America. Pete’s policies are most often in the form of a big change with room for compromise. Perhaps the clearest example is his Medicare for All Who Want It plan, which provides a public health care option for every American citizen, but still leaves room for people to keep their private insurance if that is their preference. This type of plan has been criticized as being “not progressive enough,” but I think these kinds of steps are exactly what is necessary to bring about change in this country. Making policy that is too extreme and strict leaves out people’s free choice, something that many Americans don’t accept without a fight. I think Pete’s policies are much more inclusive and accessible than those of candidates like Sen. Sanders.
Finally, I think that Pete is in the best position to defeat President Trump. Klobuchar, Warren, and Steyer are losing more and more support with each day and will be out soon. Bloomberg is dead in the water from harsh criticism about his actions and comments in the past. Biden comes across as out-of-touch and has received less positive feedback than expected for a vice president. That leaves Sanders and Pete. When it comes down to it, I think that Pete would have a much better shot at defeating Trump. Pete has run on a campaign of inclusivity from the very beginning, and always emphasizes his goal of bringing everyone together. Sanders, on the other hand, embraces his extreme views and unapologetically refuses to make compromises. Pete has the better platform to bring all types of voters in to beat President Trump in 2020, and I think that if Bernie got the nomination it could mean serious danger for the Democratic Party.
Further, this ability to get elected also applies to what each candidate could get done in office. If Sanders was the president, he would be just as extreme as President Trump, just in the other direction. What does an extreme perspective cause? Political division. We are an incredibly divided country, and one of my main concerns is the resolution of our internal conflict. I do not think that this resolution could be accomplished under a President Sanders, which is the key reason why I support Pete.
Lucas – Mickey Mouse
Mortimer Mouse, or more well known as Mickey Mouse, is a staple of american culture and one-hundred percent capable of leading our country as president. Just think of all the money that can be saved on travel expenses: Millions! He’s been appearing in presidential ballots since 1932 and not only this, but Mickey can be accessed anywhere, making traveling and foriegn talks a breeze.
Mickey is a natural leader and the face of a multi-billion dollar company, which shows he knows his way around money and public opinion. His career in film and television has prepared him to face public scrutiny and he has shown no fear in the face of rejection, as he always finds a way to get what he wants.
The merchandise profit’s for Mickey would soar if he were president and would be a major help in eliminating the national debt. Disney would skyrocket and improve our economy and we may even get a few new holidays.
So vote for Mortimer Mouse, because our world needs a bit of meeska mooska.