With the 2012 election quickly approaching, I’m left wondering if there is any hope at all for the future of America.
The current candidates, the President included, are so concerned with mudslinging that they don’t seem to have time for addressing issues. Almost every candidate is either so stuck in their beliefs that they refuse to compromise or they can’t actually decide what their platform is.
I have to say, I’m unimpressed.
Instead of trying to change my ideals to those of a current candidate, I’m going to lay out what my political platform would be because, frankly, I don’t like any of the current ones out there.
Let me start with education. As a junior in high school, I’m more than a little concerned with college and higher education. I want a president who is trying his or her best to raise the number of citizens that receive a college education, such as Republican candidate Rick Perry.
In addition, I’d like a president who will lower the debt of college students who have to take out loans. College is expensive, and students shouldn’t have to worry their whole life about paying off a debt that was created due to their desire to learn. President Barack Obama is currently trying to institute a plan to lower student loan debts.
The next piece of my platform would be about abortion. As a Catholic, I’m pro-life and think legal abortions should be limited to cases of rape and any life-threatening situations. I don’t believe that federal funds should support abortion when not everyone in the nation is in support of it. My views on abortion are similar, but not exactly the same, as Republican Candidate Mitt Romney.
As for the environment, I want there to actually be one for my grandchildren one day. There are governors, senators, representatives, etc. all over the country who are working to make their states more environmentally friendly.
Take a look at what Perry has done as governor. Texas has diversified its energy sources to renewable natural gas, coal, and nuclear power. Texas has also become a national leader in lowering emissions and known pollutants in the state.
One of the largest issues of this presidential election, however, is the economy and the nation’s budget. Why do we keep spending more and more money? We are in an economic recession, which should mean that money should not be unnecessarily spent. But it isn’t that simple, because we also need to obtain more money.
Republican candidate Michelle Bachmann wants to keep a balanced budget with no tax increases. Normally, I would agree with Bachmann about not increasing taxes, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The wealthy can afford to pay a little extra, but only in times of deep economic recession.
Another possible way to save money is to end the war in Iraq. According to CBS News, Obama announced on Oct. 21 that the United States would withdraw nearly all troops from Iraq by the end of the year. This is one of the best choices Obama has made. We have been in Iraq for much too long, fighting a war that no one is going to win.
Still, our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and their families need to be provided with the benefits they deserve for serving our country. Republican candidate Herman Cain agrees.
That is my platform.
As you can see, if I could combine certain aspects of all of the candidates, I would. The division between political parties is so great today that denouncing the other candidates is the prominent issue.
Maybe we should have listened to George Washington all along when he said in his Farewell Address, “Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.”
Emily Clarke is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com