It is my senior year, I’m finally 18, and it is my turn to do my part as an American citizen to go out and vote in the 2016 election! This is not only one of the most interesting parts of my senior year; it is one of the most important.
I have already learned so much in Mr. Farmer’s Civics class. If not for this class, I would probably be clueless about this election, and good thing I am not because this election has a lot of heat and fire under it. With Trump’s loud voice and strong opinion, and Hillary soaring right ahead of Bernie in the election, there is a lot to deal with here.
I went to see Rand Paul at Franklin Pierce University, and I liked what he had to say about the government and privacy, and how it has become obsessed with personal messages. It is not okay for the government to get distracted with all of our personal information and our lives, especially when they are missing suspicious suspects and potential terrorists. For example, they were so busy with looking into our phones, that the government completely missed the fact that the Boston bombers were communicating with terrorists back home.
I also went to see Ted Cruz in Peterborough, who is an extremely strong conservative. I enjoyed hearing about the way he felt about his daughters and how he valued them. He does not agree with women being drafted into the military, because he could not imagine sending his own children into the service. He also has a strong foot. He knows what he stands for and will fight on the floor for what is right, even if that means he has to do it by himself.
This election is so crazy, with Trump wanting to make Mexico pay for a wall, and Bernie wanting to give free public education. These are ideas, not policies, and what is the reality of them actually happening?
If Bernie taxes the top 1 percent more, they will probably get up and leave, and then who will Bernie tax? This will create an even bigger debt for our country.
Also, Trump is planning to make Mexico pay for a wall by taxing goods, and fix the trade imbalance with the NAFTA and TPP. This idea sounds pretty reasonable, but what are the odds of it actually playing out? If this plan does not go his way the first time, will he become immature and rude like he has on some of the live Republican debates?
This election is going to be my future and yours. I am not going to share who I voted for in the primary, nor will I share who I am vote for in the general election. Each and every person needs to go out and make an informed vote on their most important issues.
Jammie Mascitti, 18, of Rindge, attends Conant High School.