As Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, it is no secret that politics has made its way into every classroom and household in the United States. This year’s presidential election has divided us as a society and weakened us as a country. The election’s importance cannot be understated, as it will have a profound effect on America’s foreign policy, militaristic engagement, and internal policies. But more importantly, the results of this intense and high-strung election may likely lead to a dangerous break in society. Oftentimes, people will refuse to talk to or associate with those of a competing political party. Without discussion and open-mindedness we cannot have a cohesive society. There does not need to be agreement on all fronts, because that is not a realistic goal. However, peace can be found through consideration and conferencing.
Tabitha (Tabby) Debraski, secretary of YAG, explains, “I think voting is so important because your voice matters and silence is compliance. Even if you can’t actually vote in this election, you should still care, because it will impact your future. You can participate in campaigning and educating your peers who can vote, and register to vote at 17.” Students represent both sides of the aisle with regard to voting. One student explained, “I plan on voting for Kamala Harris because she represents my political beliefs, especially regarding education, abortion, and civil rights.” Another student explains, “I’m voting for Trump because I don’t necessarily agree with the country’s current inflation policy, nor do I agree with how one-sided society can be on the topic of political correctness.” No matter what side students are on, there has been a passionate response to this year’s election across party lines. Social media portrays both candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in different ways to sway voters to their sides. What makes this so dangerous is that oftentimes, people will not do their research to cross-check the “facts” they have been given. There is also the issue of fake news, which has affected both candidates. If this year’s pool of voters neglects to look into the facts of the candidates and claims of news outlets or social media, how can they accurately cast a vote? Furthermore, it seems as though there is a larger emphasis on character rather than policy in this election. While character should not be discounted, the policies of each candidate are equally (if not more) important. There are many resources on social media (including youtube, Instagram, and tik tok) with influencers such as Charlie Kirk, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens (advocates for the Republican party), and David Hogg, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (advocates for the Democratic party) who give their time to speak to voters, and create content on political and social issues. Many of these discussions end in debate people can not meet on a common ground to discuss.