A few days ago, I happened to hear a conversation between two people about the upcoming elections. The discussion went something like this:

A: I think I’ll vote for Trump, I don’t know why but I’ll vote for him.

B: But why him?

A: I have no cue actually, maybe for his economic program, I heard he did something good during his past term.

B: Actually it’s completely the opposite, he made the American economy worse.

A: Well, I don’t care, I’ll vote for him anyway.

The thing that made me worry it’s not so much being supporters of Trump, but to be without knowing why. To vote for someone because your parents tell you to, or because your friends do it, or even because it’s the trend of the moment – is not the right way to vote! 

So, without taking sides, I am here to explain, very briefly, the political programs of the two main candidates.

Who Are the Candidates?

First of all, who are they? Kamala Harris, for the Democratic party and Donald Trump, for the Republican party.

Here is a review of each political party’s leanings: 

• Democrat Party: more progressive and liberal on social issues, believes in a strong and helpful federal government, left-wing party. The Democrats are identified by the color blue and the donkey as their symbol. 

• Republican Party: more conservative and traditional on social issues, believes in states’ rights and small federal government, right-wing party.  The Republicans are identified by the color red and the elephant as their symbol.

DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM:

ECONOMY: Trump gave his intention to impose duties and more controls. He is less trusting of the global market and globalization, if elected, he plans to limit the Chinese exports.

He promised to “put an end to inflation” and to make America, a country with “accessible prices”, once again.

He also promised to lower the interest rate, and with the expulsion of illegal immigrants, the salaries will become competitive again.

ABORTION:  The majority of Americans are in favor of abortion rights. Trump, who is a conservative, has avoided many times expressing his true beliefs on the issue – this may be a strategy put in place so as not to lose votes.

IMMIGRATION:  Trump declared that his policy will be harsher and less flexible with respect to Biden’s, regarding immigration, he also added that he will “seal” the Mexican border.

TAXATION: Trump has proposed generalized cuts and reductions.  According to a BBC’s analysis, if put into practice, it would be trillions of dollars. The coverage would come from the raise of the duties and taxes on imports.

FOREIGN POLICY: the Republican candidate supports the plan that The US should reduce involvement in trade agreements and in the world’s conflicts. He declared that he does not want another agreement on Iranian nuclear energy (he revoked the same agreement in 2015).

As regards the Middle Eastern conflict, he assumes that his presidency would be able to bring back peace in the area, from the moment that Trump is closer to Israeli government positions.

Also with the regard to the Ukraine-Russia question, Trump is more influenced by a lesser commitment to help Kiev, he sustains that, in this war too, with his presidency would be able to put an end to the conflict.

However, talking about NATO, the Republican Party leader reaffirms that, in his opinion, all countries, part of the alliance, should achieve the minimum limits of military expenditure.

CLIMATE POLICY: According to a BCC’s reconstruction, Trump revoked hundreds of measurements for the ambiental protection, as the measures to limit CO2 emissions from power plants and cars.

Moreover, he promised to extend the concessions for drilling in the Arctic.

SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, RECREATIONAL DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRICES:  Trump  guarantees the constitutional right to possess weapons.

He is against other regulations on the pharmaceutical prices and has definitely moderates positions for what concerns recreational drugs, in fact he declared to end the unnecessary arrests of adults possessing small amounts of marijuana.

KAMALA HARRIS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM:

ECONOMY: Harris wants to fight inflation, which is the raise in the price of goods on the market. This would be her first concern, as she has stated.  

She proposed to find solutions to reduce the prices of the basic necessities of the houses and new rules to forbid speculation on prices and incentives for housing provision.

ABORTION: Regarding abortion, Harris proposes a law that establishes that the right  to abortion applies through the Country, regardless of the individual states.

IMMIGRATION: Turning to illegal immigration, Harris recognizes that on the Mexican border it is a problem. In the past she contributed to raising funds to intervene directly in the countries of Central America.

TAXATION: the Democratic candidate proposes an increase in taxes on big corporations and on the salaries of the Americans who earn more than 400 thousand per year, at the same time she talked about measures to reduce the tax burden on families with children and lower-income groups.

FOREIGN POLICY: The sustainment of Ukraine is one of her undisputed points of her foreign policy – Harris declared many times that Kiev will be helped as long as necessary. Also on the Middle East question, Harris stands out clearly from the ideals of the opposite party. She believes there is an urgent need for a ceasefire, but still ensuring the right to Israel to defend itself. She declared herself in favor of the two-state solution.

CLIMATE POLICY:  Unlike her opponent, the Democratic Party leader said she was in favor of banning “fracking.”

SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT, RECREATIONAL DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRICES: One of the central themes of her campaign is to be a Moderate Democrat, which is shown in her stance on guns. She has mentioned that she herself possesses weapons and that this should be a right, but she thinks that the diffusion should be limited by law in specific cases.

She believes in the legalization of recreational soft drugs, and she wants to impose maximum caps on the prices of some widely used medicines.

My aim in writing this was to help you be informed, whether you are voting this year or in the next election. 

Please vote your conscience!