Uncertainty Among Americans with the President-Elect
Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election resulted in different reactions and opinions from Pioneer's student body
By Marilyn Weaver
Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election resulted in different reactions and opinions from Pioneer's student body
By Marilyn Weaver
This past presidential election has arguably been one of the most controversial in United States history. The week of the election brought incredible stress upon our country with Joe Biden running as the Democratic nominee and Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. This 2020 election also brought a much bigger turnout in America’s young voters with 52-55% of youth voting in this year's election as opposed to 42-44% youth turnout in the 2016 election.
As the votes started flooding in, Donald Trump took a strong lead but was short lived as Biden won almost all swing states ending with 306 electoral votes and 81,283,859 popular votes, while Trump took 232 electoral votes and 74,221,939 popular votes. As most Joe Biden supporters celebrated in the streets and at home Donald Trump and his administration called fraudulent voting against Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Minnesota.
Students on campus have formed their own opinions on the election, some even feeling neutral in this polarized debate. Ryan Carney, senior class president, has been keeping up with politics and the recent presidential election. While he identifies as a conservative, he felt indifferent to the ultimate outcome of the race.
“I was honestly kind of in the middle, I wouldn't mind if either candidate was elected,” said Carney. “I agree with Trump’s policy making, however I do not like how he acts as a person and makes a lot of division in the country and I’m hoping that Biden will actually help with that division and bring us back together as a country.”
Other students disagree with the behavior Trump has displayed to the world and were pleased with Biden’s win. Katja Reinwald, 12 is relieved that Trump will not return for a second term, but is skeptical on how Biden will follow through with his policies.
“The way Donald Trump presents himself and speaks is completely inappropriate for how a president should act,” said Reinwald. “Although the president elect isn’t the ideal candidate, I think this is a step in the right direction.”
As Joe Biden’s inauguration in January approaches, Americans hope for a peaceful transfer of power leading to a more unified country and a new plan to battle COVID-19 which is spreading quickly as infection rates are higher than ever. According to the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, Dec. 9 added 1,700 new cases, with a rolling week average of more than 650 cases daily.
“Biden plans to listen to what scientists are saying and work with others to ensure that we successfully get the pandemic under control” said Reinwald.
With a new president coming into office in January there is plenty of controversy regarding new policies. Biden’s tax plan involves increasing taxes on individuals with incomes above $400,000. This includes individual income, capital gains, and payroll taxes.
“This tax plan will not affect my family and I personally. I think that if you tax people less and give more tax breaks it will affect the lower and middle class and allow them more jobs and be able to pay them more” said Carney.
According to analysis by the non-partisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center in February, Trump’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” did not have a significant impact on economic growth.
Under Trump’s leadership immigration policies were another popular debate topic, along with the ICE detention camps where un-documented immigrants were held. Some view Biden’s presidency as something that will help immigrants
“I think the immigrant community will definitely feel safer with Biden because he has a much more friendly approach to it,” said Carney.
But others are concerned about Biden’s past policies regarding immigration.
“I think only time will tell as to how much reform Biden is going to make, he hasn’t proved to be great with past immigration policies,” said Reinwald.
The past four years the US has become increasingly divided, leaving some with hope that Biden, a moderate, can sever the hate between the two parties. Assistant principal of discipline, Tim Gavello, sees the new president as a chance to bridge the gap between Americans.
“I think any president that wants to unify the country is a positive thing, this is a priority for our country,” said Gavello.
As the votes started flooding in, Donald Trump took a strong lead but was short lived as Biden won almost all swing states ending with 306 electoral votes and 81,283,859 popular votes, while Trump took 232 electoral votes and 74,221,939 popular votes. As most Joe Biden supporters celebrated in the streets and at home Donald Trump and his administration called fraudulent voting against Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Minnesota.
Students on campus have formed their own opinions on the election, some even feeling neutral in this polarized debate. Ryan Carney, senior class president, has been keeping up with politics and the recent presidential election. While he identifies as a conservative, he felt indifferent to the ultimate outcome of the race.
“I was honestly kind of in the middle, I wouldn't mind if either candidate was elected,” said Carney. “I agree with Trump’s policy making, however I do not like how he acts as a person and makes a lot of division in the country and I’m hoping that Biden will actually help with that division and bring us back together as a country.”
Other students disagree with the behavior Trump has displayed to the world and were pleased with Biden’s win. Katja Reinwald, 12 is relieved that Trump will not return for a second term, but is skeptical on how Biden will follow through with his policies.
“The way Donald Trump presents himself and speaks is completely inappropriate for how a president should act,” said Reinwald. “Although the president elect isn’t the ideal candidate, I think this is a step in the right direction.”
As Joe Biden’s inauguration in January approaches, Americans hope for a peaceful transfer of power leading to a more unified country and a new plan to battle COVID-19 which is spreading quickly as infection rates are higher than ever. According to the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, Dec. 9 added 1,700 new cases, with a rolling week average of more than 650 cases daily.
“Biden plans to listen to what scientists are saying and work with others to ensure that we successfully get the pandemic under control” said Reinwald.
With a new president coming into office in January there is plenty of controversy regarding new policies. Biden’s tax plan involves increasing taxes on individuals with incomes above $400,000. This includes individual income, capital gains, and payroll taxes.
“This tax plan will not affect my family and I personally. I think that if you tax people less and give more tax breaks it will affect the lower and middle class and allow them more jobs and be able to pay them more” said Carney.
According to analysis by the non-partisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center in February, Trump’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” did not have a significant impact on economic growth.
Under Trump’s leadership immigration policies were another popular debate topic, along with the ICE detention camps where un-documented immigrants were held. Some view Biden’s presidency as something that will help immigrants
“I think the immigrant community will definitely feel safer with Biden because he has a much more friendly approach to it,” said Carney.
But others are concerned about Biden’s past policies regarding immigration.
“I think only time will tell as to how much reform Biden is going to make, he hasn’t proved to be great with past immigration policies,” said Reinwald.
The past four years the US has become increasingly divided, leaving some with hope that Biden, a moderate, can sever the hate between the two parties. Assistant principal of discipline, Tim Gavello, sees the new president as a chance to bridge the gap between Americans.
“I think any president that wants to unify the country is a positive thing, this is a priority for our country,” said Gavello.