LAHORE (Dunya News) – The all-important US election is around the corner. The upcoming poll is crucial as the American citizens are facing many problems.
Both candidates are leaving no stone unturned to give a policy outline or panacea to the crisis.
A few problems that have their direct relations with the US elections are listed below:
ECONOMY
The economy ranks as the most important of 22 issues that US registered voters say will influence their choice for president. It is the only issue on which a majority of voters, 52%, say the candidates’ positions on it are an “extremely important” influence on their vote.
Another 38% of voters rate the economy as “very important,” which means the issue could be a significant factor to nine in 10 voters.
Voters view Donald Trump as better able than Kamala Harris to handle the economy, 54pc versus 45pc.
In recent months, the US economy has shown improvement. But, inflation – which is directly linked with voters and their choice, is increasing. As one expert puts it, “The economy is booming, but inflation is on voters’ minds as election nears.”
As for unemployment, the US economy has created jobs in recent months. The US unemployment rate is currently the lowest in 50 years.
But recently, natural crisis like hurricanes hit the US and the economy’s potential to create jobs has taken a hit. For instance, jobs growth in the US slowed sharply in October as hurricanes and strikes disrupted the economy.
Employers added 12,000 jobs last month, much lower than the 223,000 created in September, according to the Labour Department.
IMMIGRATION
It is also one of the key issues which has a direct link with the US election. The stance taken by both sides – Republican and Democrat – is also very different.
For instance, former president Donald Trump said he would lead the biggest deportation campaign if elected to power. He said millions and millions of illegal immigrants are pouring into our country and they must be limited in number. Under his vision, he wants to make America great again.
On the other hand, the Democrat nominee stance shows acceptance for immigrants.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 77pc of Americans believe the southern border is experiencing either an ongoing crisis or is a major problem. Meanwhile 55pc wish to see less overall immigration, 53pc support expansion of the border wall and 63pc would support the president temporarily closing the border to asylum seekers when the border is “overwhelmed”.
Some experts said immigration has never been an issue of outstanding importance in US election. But this time, the tone and rhetoric employed by both sides has turned the issue into an extraordinary one.
REFORMS IN THE SUPREME COURT
This is also considered an important issue. Recently, the US Supreme Court has passed a few laws which has not sit well with the masses.
ABORTION
In the two years since the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, abortion has become the kind of issue that decides elections. Outrage over Roe’s demise led Republicans to flounder in the 2022 midterms, and abortion rights supporters have won every post-Roe abortion-related ballot measure, including in red states such as Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas.
This year, most of the ballot measures are seeking to amend states’ constitutions to protect abortion rights up until fetal viability, or about 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Because a number of the measures are in states that have outlawed abortion, they could become the first to overturn the post-Roe ban. Others are in states where abortion is legal, but activists say the measures are necessary to cement protections so they can’t be easily overturned if Republicans control the government.
It merits mention that Trump has not promised to his voters that he would ban abortion on the national scale. But, abortion supporters fear that once in power, the rightwing leader would pass the law banning abortion.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris who talks a lot about her struggle and success during her youth said the choice should be left to the citizens of each state to decide about their child.
FOREIGN POLICY
Almost all US election experts agree that foreign policy does not make it to the top-most issues.
But, the situation is different this time. Consider the massive protests by university students and human rights groups condemning the Israeli brutality against the innocent Palestinians.
Many US citizens have expressed outrage over their country’s support and complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.
In this election, the Gaza war and the choice of US voters have become important. But, the choice the voters have is very scary.
They have to choose between Kamala Harris – on whose watch Isarel has launched bloodbath in Gaza – and Donal Trump – whose support for Israel knows no bounds.