Election 2016

 

By: Josh Leach

 

 

            Candidates are already preparing for the 2016 election.  Many political analysts are finding this upcoming election to be unpredictable.  Hillary Clinton is clearly the forerunner for the Democratic Party, but the Republican Party remains extremely divided.  The election will be further complicated, because third parties may actually gain some ground in 2016.  The Libertarian Party offers to bridge the gap between conservatives and liberals.  Political issues are likely to play a key role due to party division.

            Why is the Republican Party so divided?    The Tea Party Movement had little immediate affect on politics, but the division has grown and is threatening to tear the party into the conservatives and the super conservatives.  Some Republican candidates are taking more moderate positions on political issues, while others are advocating for extreme conservatism.  Brian McTuige, a senior at Seckman High School, says, “I am not completely over to the right, but I’m not going to compromise my values for a changing society.”  The big question is, which side voters will choose?  Daily News says, “Republicans are facing their most unpredictable presidential primary campaign in a generation, while Clinton remains the overwhelming favorite for Democrats.”

            Candidates are already going head to head for the Republican nomination.  Rand Paul and Jeb Bush are currently on top according to recent polls.  However, Marco Rubio aims to win over young voters.  Colin Campbell, a news writer for the Business Insider writes, “Though Rubio hasn't been generating as many headlines as many of his competitors, the strategist, Greg Valliere, argued he uniquely benefited from the 2014 Republican landslide.”  Too much uncertainly exists to make any good predictions for 2016 at this point in time.

            The only thing known for certain is that political issues will be incredibly important in this election.  Climate change will be among the most talked about issue.  The New York Times says, “President Obama’s landmark agreement with China to cut greenhouse gas pollution is a bet by the President and Democrats that on the issue of climate change, American voters are far ahead of Washington’s warring factions and that the environment will be a winning cause in the 2016 presidential campaign.”  Democrats are pushing to drastically change the nation’s fuel consumption and increase the market for renewable energy.  “Republicans, on the other hand, voice serious concerns that moves in the U.S. to cut power plant and automobile emissions could cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars and are digging in to oppose any effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and the administration to pursue severe emission cutbacks,” according to John Blosser, a writer for the online newspaper Newsmax.  Healthcare will also be a major debate.  There is an official website devoted to informing the public on the election, known as 2016 Election.com.  The website says, “Affordable Care Act’s exchanges has recently surpassed 8 million, leading President Obama to encourage Democrats not only to not distance themselves from the issue, but to actively campaign on it.  This could prove a challenge for Republicans, who have made the abolition of Obamacare a key political goal, and continue to labor to ensure that it is foremost on the minds of voters in the next presidential election.”  Josh Kurosz, a senior, says, “I don’t know if Obamacare is the answer, but we need some kind of national healthcare system.”  One thing is clear in this election: candidates must be very careful with the stances they take.

            This election offers an opportunity for change.  People will be unable to mindlessly vote with their party.  The public will be forced to base their votes on specific political issues.  Whether the election results in a Republican or Democrat victory does not matter.  The voice of the American people will be heard.