As election day rapidly approaches, the US Presidential race is reaching a heated point. Despite attending an international school in Southeast Asia, American politics has continued to permeate the subjects of conversation heard in the hallways and classrooms. Many of those graduating in the Class of 2016 will even be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections as they head to university.
We all know some of what’s happening: what we see on Twitter and Facebook. But what do we really know about the candidates in the running to become one of the most powerful individuals in the world? Continue reading for a brief profile into each of the Presidential frontrunners, as well as the opinions of some of your very own classmates.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders has been the senator of Vermont since 2007, and has been an elected official for 34 years. As President, he plans on enacting a single-payer healthcare system for all, wants to make college free for everyone by taxing financial transactions, and wants to raise payroll. His caucus and primary results are Iowa (2nd) and New Hampshire (1st).
Hillary Clinton
Hillary was the former Secretary of State, 2008 presidential candidate, and former member of the US senate. She was accused of corruption for allowing the Clinton Foundation to accept donations from foreign governments and hiding emails from when she was Secretary of State.
She opposes the trans-pacific partnership free trade agreement and the Keystone XL pipeline, and wants to raise taxes on capital gains held for 1-6 years. Her caucus and primary results are Iowa (1st) and New Hampshire (2nd).
Donald Trump
Trump is a successful businessmen; republican before 1999, but a registered democrat from 2001-2009 and previously supported universal healthcare.
He also plans on expanding treatment programs for people with mental health problems (in response to mass shootings), and wants to build a wall across the Mexican border and increase fees on border crossing cards. His caucus and primary results are Iowa (2nd tied) and New Hampshire (1st).
Marco Rubio
Rubio has been a Florida senator from 2011. He believes marriage decisions should be decided by individual states, wants to close the “Department of Education”, disputes the scientific understanding of climate change, and wants to redirect funding from environmental issues to defense. His caucus and primary results are Iowa (2nd tied) and New Hampshire (2nd tied).
But what do ISB students think of these candidates?
Toby Wertime (12), believes that Clinton will get the Democratic nomination, and that Rubio will get the Republican nomination. When asked why, Toby stated that, “although I am personally a fan of Sanders, I believe Clinton will get the nomination because she is a fixture in the Democratic establishment. She has the backing of too many super democrats and has been in the limelight too long for her power not to wane in the upcoming elections.”
He then stated that he thinks Rubio will get the nomination because “the people who are going to vote for Trump are currently polling their vote for him. He is too polarising at the moment, so no one else is going to vote for him in the upcoming primaries. People are going to lean towards the middle and what they know–which, in my opinion, is Rubio.”
However, Jake Lazich (12), believes that Sanders will take the Democratic nomination and that and Trump will take the Republican nomination. Jake states that “both Sanders and Trump possess a cult following with a strong presence on social media. Both candidates are politically entertaining and have radical views; with Trump’s obviously opinionated policy positions and Bernie’s democratic socialism, I think they are going to bring in a lot of support.”
With only eight months until the election, it is time to make the decision on who to vote for. Will you feel the Bern? Or will you make America great again?
Hanna W and Sofia M
