Election Day is approaching and the candidates (Donald Trump and Joe Biden) are a repeat of last election. Biden is currently in office, having won against Trump in 2020, while Trump beat Hillary Clinton in 2016. America hasn’t seen a presidential rematch since 1956.
Reporters Carly Hazen and Claire O’Connor debate on the issue of the repeat election. They will touch on the age of the candidates, informed voters and the policies of the candidates.
O'Connor:
Biden vs. Trump. This persistent matchup is certainly not unfamiliar to America, leaving many voters annoyed. According to a poll conducted by Pew Research Center, 49% of voters wish they could replace both candidates on the ballot.
One of the biggest issues present in both candidates is age; Biden is 81 and Trump is 77. The average life expectancy for a person in the U.S. is 76. This raises the question: Are their running mates the real presidential candidates? We should be worried about what bills our president will sign into law, not what we’ll do if they die from old age. Additionally, their age makes their views outdated and disconnects them from younger voters.
Why not find a potential younger candidate in their 30’s or 40’s? Having a younger candidate would inspire young voters to register and vote in the next presidential election. With few young politicians holding office, younger generations lack representation in the happenings of the U.S. government.
Hazen:
While it is true that both Biden and Trump are older, their age could be a good thing.
We have a better understanding of who we’re voting for and how the candidates will perform in office. A younger candidate doesn’t have the same experience as an older one and might not know the issues they’re dealing with as well as someone with more perception.
With prior experience in the job and clearer ideas of what they want to do, Biden and Trump’s campaigns have changed from the previous election. With new campaigns and new issues, public opinion has changed, creating, essentially, a new election with the same candidates.
An older candidate with more experience is really beneficial especially to the younger voters. Many people that vote for the first time aren’t going to spend all this time researching each candidate and who they are. However, if they already know the candidates and have a good understanding of what they will do, more new voters will trust them and want to vote for them.
O'Connor:
Yes, voters are more informed on the candidates. But maybe that’s just the issue. Many voters are dissatisfied with the idea of either candidate — Biden or Trump — holding office next January.
Elections are a key part of democracy, and Trump’s actions following his loss in 2020 jeopardizes the role they play in our representative government. As a result of claiming election fraud, Trump’s followers joined in with his belief of a “stolen election” and stormed the Capitol. If Biden wins in 2024, what’s stopping a Jan. 6 pt. 2 from occurring?
Additionally, Trump is currently participating in four criminal trials and one civil trial. If he’s elected, we could potentially have a felon governing our country — that should certainly raise some concern among American citizens.
Even if Trump wasn’t a candidate, Biden’s election would still pose significant issues. Despite Biden’s environmentalist policies, he signed off on the Willow Project, an oil drilling project in Alaska that will further worsen climate change.
It infuriates me that older politicians — without the input of younger generations — are taking actions that will not show their true effects until after they are dead.
Hazen:
Yes, Trump has made mistakes, but, while it isn’t something we should ignore, he has not been found guilty of the charges brought against him in his criminal trials, as of right now.
What we should be focusing on is what Biden and Trump could do and how they could change if given another chance. There is a reason that Trump and Biden are the frontrunners again — they had to have been doing something right.
While many of us only remember the negative parts of their presidency, both Biden and Trump made many major accomplishments during their administrations.
During Trump’s term, he was able to boost the economy, provide tax relief and help America achieve energy independence. In his term, Biden was able to increase overtime for workers, promote gun safety in schools and increase the expansion of clean renewable energy.
If either one of them were re-elected, it would give them a chance to learn from their mistakes and do even more for our country — just like they did the first time.
O'Connor:
There is no question that the current presidential candidates are knowledgeable and experienced. The issue lies in what they do with that knowledge and experience.
There is a reason that both Trump and Biden are the frontrunners again, but that’s not necessarily because they were doing something right. The process of nominating candidates doesn’t result in optimal or truly representative choices. Once political parties realize candidates like Trump and Biden have numerous supporters, they have no desire to replace their popular nominees with someone who would be better for our country.
Hazen:
Who’s to say that a younger face will be at all more beneficial than an experienced one? Biden and Trump may both make several unpopular decisions, but when looking at what they’ve accomplished, it shouldn’t matter if the public doesn’t necessarily agree. They both know how to make decisions that will benefit our country — a younger candidate might not.
This poll has ended.
Is this rematch good for our country?
Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.
