North Penn students weigh in on the presidency

Everyone has their own political opinions and viewpoints, and while some people are more vocal than others, it does not change the fact that people all have differing beliefs and values. Elections of any kind always bring out these differences as people are forced to make a choice. And with this current election, North Penn has never before been more vocal about politics. In years past, the only people to really pay close attention to politics were only a small percentage of students. This year is much different. Students who wouldn’t have had much of a partisan opinion before, are suddenly louder and more outspoken than ever. With so many people following the election this year, what has North Penn been saying about it?

“Every election has its downsides, this has a lot more than usual,” said David Shelly, a forthright political activist at North Penn High School. Shelley is quite an outgoing liberal and during the primaries was also an avid supporter of Bernie Sanders. “He’s committed to actual change, such as finance reform to decrease the wealth gap, and he wouldn’t get us into another military quagmire. Hillary on the other hand is way too eager to put troops back into the Middle East.”

To many of North Penn’s students, Sanders was the favorite candidate by far. Within in the school, it almost seemed as though he had everyone on his side.

Rainbow Alliance member, William Butler agreed, saying, “Bernie is the most honest politician. He really influenced politics and I can admire his crowd funded campaign.”

For many students of NPHS, Sanders was clearly the most favorable candidate, championing the cause of the youth to rallying cries of a socialistic economic equality by “breaking up the big banks.” Although much of the student body was in support of the Vermont senator, this was not always the case as conservative and more right wing individuals found it hard to agree with him.

“He could seriously damage American business. His tax policies on businesses both here and abroad are absolutely horrible. Also, he’s a bit of a hypocrite, considering that he himself is quite an effluent man,” said Nathaniel Maier, senior, steadfast conservative, and member of the Christian Club. “I cannot say that I support the man.”

Maier is hardly the only student to share those beliefs. Many Republicans felt that Sander’s policies were more hopeful than practical.

“It’s completely farfetched to put his policies in place,” said Carl Hamilton, a staunch conservative and outward Trump supporter. “Levying the taxes will not redistribute the wealth. Taxing corporations will actually increase workers’ wages as well. Also, since the companies will make less money, they will be forced to outsource overseas for cheaper labor.”

Still, regardless of the opinions of Republican students, it does not change the fact that Sanders was the top choice for president by much of NPHS’s student body. When he dropped out of the race, many liberal students felt disappointed, believing that Hillary would not be a suitable replacement to him.

“At least she knows what she’s doing,” said Shelley dryly. “She is a militarist and a corporatist, but still better than Trump. She is just way too eager to have boots on the ground in the Middle East again.”

For many of North Penn’s democrats, Hillary Clinton has proven to be a disappointment. The scandal of her emails as well as her more conservative rhetoric have definitely impacted her already doggy approval ratings.

“She’s the lesser of two evils, but I still agree with her more often than Trump,” said Olivia Follis, secretary of the Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA) club.

“I think that her husband, Bill, is really the one running,” stated African American Awareness Club officer Katiana Dupiehe. “He’s just using Hillary to get another chance in the White House.”

“Both Trump and Hillary are just trying to win votes and aren’t really committed to change,” said Muslim Student Association (MSA) president Fariha Nahar.

Without a doubt, for North Penn’s students, Hillary has done little to win their support. However, don’t believe that it is only the democrats that have been having a difficult time favoring their presidential candidate. Many republicans have expressed clear concern with how Donald Trump has been steering their party.

“Personally, I can’t stand Trump,” said Maier. “However, for most of the Republican Party, he is the lesser of two evils.”

Nathaniel was verbal about politics long before now, often being outspoken about the decisions of President Obama. He is a faithful supporter of the established Republican Party as well as a devote Christian, though he also has less than a positive view on Trump.

“I don’t know why Christians have been supporting Trump,” explained Maier. “If you listen to anything he says, he is clearly not a Christian. However, on the flip side, I don’t see how any Christian could vote for Hillary either. Trump was too supportive of abortion in the past, and he was also a liberal. However, God did plan for this election to happen, so that at least is some silver lining.”

For many established conservatives, this election has been anything but easy. Trump supporters often do not favor his rhetoric or how he acts outside of politics.

“I don’t like Trump as a person. In fact, it’s kind of hard to like Trump as a person,” said Hamilton. “Admittedly, he’s not a likeable person, but I think he’ll be a better choice than Hillary. His tax plan will lower taxes on everyone. If we increase taxes on the rich, the taxes will trickle down to the middle class. However, if we cut taxes on the rich, it will in turn stimulate business.”

Trickledown economics has been a controversial economic plan since the years of president Regan, with many conservatives singing its praises, while liberals can’t stand it.

“Trickledown economics doesn’t work,” said Shelly. “It just makes the rich richer.”

With this election being one of the most polarized in decades, a major feeling toward it has been anxiety. In prior elections, once the president was sworn in, Americans all but forgot about what had happened during the race. However, this year, people are not so sure that the country will settle down as quickly as before. With major issues such as immigration, same-sex marriage, and the situation in the Middle East, students of many different political ideologies have expressed concern about how this election will turn out.

Being a transsexual student, Butler feels a certain fear of the outcome of this election not many can understand. With the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage still in the recent past, many LGBTQ people fear a possible overturning of it or even possible violence against them by radical fringe groups.

“We already have a 50% chance of death before 30,” said Avery Baldy, a transgender student at NPHS. “Now, that number may go up.”

“Under Obama, gay marriage was legalized, and the Whitehouse got gender neutral bathrooms,” explained Butler. “If Trump wins, all that progress will be reversed.”

“I don’t agree with all of Hillary’s polices,” said Cat, a transgender student at NPHS, “but she has a lot more experience than Trump, and since she is a woman, she will probably help the LGBTQ community as well as women’s rights.”

For many liberal groups, the Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage was celebrated, being seen as another step toward equality. However, conservatives disagree, sighting that major decisions like this are better left in the hands of the states.

“I think this is a slippery slope,” Maier said. “If the Supreme Court can simply rule that love is love, can we expect polygamy next?”

“When Hillary said that the Supreme Court should be the voice of the people, I just couldn’t agree with her,” said Hamilton. “The Supreme Court is meant to be a check on power to check the other branches of government. Thus, it is meant to check the voice of the people, not become it.”

However, regardless of how controversial the issue of same-sex marriage has been, it is by no means the only political hurdle that has plagued the election. Early last year, Trump revealed his policy to build a wall on the Mexican border, a wall that he claims Mexico will pay for. While some think that it is simply a waste of money and time, others believe that it will have a much more dangerous effect.

“The wall is insulting to Hispanics and will destroy any good relations that we have with South American nations,” said Follis, who, like other members of her party, is more anti-Trump rather than pro-Hillary. “Our immigration process is already incredibly difficult. For most Hispanics, the American Dream is very enticing.”

“Illegal Immigrants just want a better life,” said Monica Meek, a member of the African American Awareness Club said. “In our history, we’ve had such a bad track record of discrimination, and this is just another example of such.”

However, this kind of sentiment has not been universal to everyone, and the topic of immigration has arguably been the most talked about issue thus far.

“If you’re already coming into this country illegally, you can’t make money legally,” said Jawad Ahmed, the SALSA Club vice and expressed conservative. “Also, if an illegal immigrant manages to find a job legally, they will naturally work for less money and thus take jobs away from actual American citizens.”

“True, they are coming over for a better life,” Hamilton said. “But illegal immigrants can also pose a serious threat to American citizens as well as being unfair to legal immigrants.”

Still, regardless of the party, it would seem that many of North Penn’s students believe that the wall will not succeed. “The Wall is unnecessary considering that most illegals don’t cross directly over the border. I don’t think it will get passed,” said Ahmed.

Lastly, and perhaps the largest foreign issues the next president will face, is the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. With ISIS and the Assad regime, millions of Syrians have been displaced and are attempting to flee the war-torn region. President Obama has promised to bring in millions of refugees from the Middle East before leaving office, a statement that was embraced by the Democrats, and that appalled the Republicans.

“ISIS naturally poses a need to bring in refugees,” said Maier, “but we’ve been too impulsive with how we’re doing it. There needs to be more screening to make sure that we are letting in the right people.”

However, many conservatives do not agree with Trump’s call for a ban on all Muslim immigration, sighting it as unnecessary as well as un-American.

“We’re supposed to be a land of equality,” said Maier in reaction to the ban. “We also have freedom of religion.”

However, even if the majority of Republican students at NPHs do not agree with the ban, it has certainly been gaining headway nonetheless. In response, Muslim students have growing concerns with how the country could change with the outcome of this election.

“A president’s rhetoric affects the culture, even if they pass no laws,” said Nahar. “With Trump as our president, Muslim Americans could be further alienated from society, and it could also affect our reputation as a country.”

“Violence isn’t Islam,” said MSA vice-president Omar Alhomsi. “It is a religion of peace and rhetoric like Trump’s only makes life harder for Muslim Americans.”

At least in the realm of refugees, both North Penn’s liberals and conservative seem to have reached somewhat of a middle ground. Both parties think it right to help fleeing refugees, they are not, however, unified with how to do it.

“There just isn’t enough caution on our part,” said Maier. “We’ve been too welcoming, and we may suffer as a result of that.”

Still, as the presidential election comes to a close, it would seem that the defining quote North Penn has used to describe would be “the lesser of two evils.” It’s no secret that this election has been by far the most polarized in recent memory. Many of North Penn’s students are not as much in support of their candidate, as they are more against their opponent. However, with so much sentiment about the race, the United States will likely be feeling its effects long after the next president is chosen.

“Regardless of the outcome of this election, it will have a huge impact,” said Shelley.