If you have not already heard, Welcome to Election Year! The country has been more divided than ever, and this year’s election is the most important in history. At least that is what I have heard for the last 8 or more years; it seems to be a common theme. So the question I have is, is this really the most important election ever?
Tracking the Top Election Issues
In no particular order, let’s discuss the top issues that could make an impact.
Economy
Democrats will tell you the economy is doing well while Republicans will tell you the economy has gone to hell… so which is it? On paper, the data looks good, the Dow has reached an all-time high and unemployment is riding steady at 3.7 percent. For reference, an unemployment rate between 3 and 5 percent is reasonable, according to Forbes. With such positive data it should be hard for Republicans to debate. However, most Americans will never read or care about the data.
If the economy is going strong, I question why over 5 percent of my colleagues have been laid off in January alone. Furthermore, over the last year, large companies such as Google, Amazon, and Disney have announced major layoffs. The good news is we can put that behind us, but the bad news is that 92 percent of organizations have plans to downsize in 2024.
While people can feel grateful to still have their jobs, many of them will be putting in extra hours with little chance of a promotion, raise, or bonus. These numbers just do not seem to be keeping up with inflation. Prices at the grocery store and rent have significantly increased since the start of the pandemic, eating into Americans’ savings.
Historically, Democrats have performed better when it comes to the economy. Considering the current status and what history tells us, you will need to decide what matters to you more.
Abortion
Possibly the most divisive issue affecting voters, a candidate’s stance can either make or break their campaign. Decision-makers for the Democrats generally fight for legalization while Republicans take a more “Pro-Life” position.
In June of 2022, the Supreme Court ruled against Roe v. Wade, overturning the constitutional right to abortion a half-century later. This meant that the states became responsible for deciding whether abortion was legal. Many also blame the decision of Dobbs’ v. Jackson Women’s Health for the underperformance of Republicans in the 2022 midterms. Could this be a glimpse into how abortion may affect the outcome of the 2024 election?
As president, Donald Trump appointed three Supreme Court Justices, each of whom has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. While he supported a 20-week Federal ban in office, he has since come out against it, taking a more lenient approach.
Nikki Haley on the other hand has taken a firmer stance, supporting a 15-week Federal Ban. She has also signed a 20-week state-level ban as Governor of South Carolina. Both GOP candidates support abortions if the life of the pregnant mother is at risk. Donald Trump, however, also supports abortion in the case of rape and incest while Haley has been fickle on the subject.
If Republicans are going to have a chance at picking up some Independent voters, they are going to need to come to some common ground. Afraid of neglecting the conservative base, the GOP position on abortion could cost them the Presidency.
Immigration & Border Patrol
If you are not living in a border state this may not be high on your list of priorities. However, immigration is becoming a key issue for Republicans. A key issue for one party should become a key issue for the other.
According to a Monmouth University/Washington Post Poll, 59 percent of GOP voters in New Hampshire believe Immigration is extremely important with Illegal Immigration being the top issue the nation is facing. As New Hampshire is not even a border state, these numbers are quite revealing.
In recent weeks alone, more than 10,000 migrants per day have made their way to the Southwest border. Many of them are then bused to New York City or Chicago, Democrat-led cities that are not equipped to handle the abundance of migrants.
According to the New York Times, more than half of the 122,100 people staying in homeless shelters in New York City were migrants. Hotels, office buildings, and even school gymnasiums needed to be converted into shelters due to the overwhelming influx.
As if immigration was not enough of an issue at the border, the trafficking of fentanyl has seen an 850% increase since 2019. In 2021 alone, over 100,000 deaths have occurred due to drug overdoses, with over two-thirds of the deaths resulting from fentanyl.
Chemicals from China are distributed through Mexican drug labs which then manufacture pills meant to resemble FDA-approved drugs. They infiltrate our communities, fueling the opioid crisis. Although most people trafficking fentanyl across the border are U.S. citizens, something must be done to remedy the situation.
Still not convinced this is the most important election in history? Neither am I, but the issues we are facing are alarming and I have only just begun to scratch the surface.