The election coming up is an important one for college students; for many of us it is the first election we are allowed to vote in and many key issues in this election are relevant to college-aged citizens. However, just because we are of age and are registered, doesn’t mean we are informed enough to make the right decision. To help you do that, below are each candidate’s views on a few of the major issues. Read carefully and vote purposefully.
Abortion-
Obama: Obama supports abortion rights and opposes any constitutional amendments to overturn Roe v. Wade. Obama also expressed in his 2008 campaign that government should not intrude on private family affairs.
Romney: Romney is against abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the mother’s life. Romney also vetoed a measure that would have permitted minors to purchase the morning-after pill without a prescription and a bill to allow doctors to provide emergency contraception. (The Washington Post)
Education-
Obama: In 2010 Obama signed legislation that allows students to refinance their guaranteed and direct loans at a lower interest rate. The government also guarantees that loan recipients won’t have to pay more than 10 percent of their income and forgives their debt after 20 years. (The Washington Post)
Romney: Romney wants to put education back in the power of local and state governments but he does support some federal requirements such as teacher evaluations. He also wants to put the power of education back into the hands of parents and teachers instead of in the hands of the “fat-cat CEOs of the teachers' unions.”
"[Because] I am in a swing state, I registered to vote in North Carolina because I can make a difference," Emily Cohen, a sophomore at Duke University said.
Health Care-
Obama: Obama’s health-care plan requires that all insurers cover the cost of birth control with no co-pays for the insured. It requires virtually all Americans to purchase insurance, reduces Medicare costs and does not allow insurance companies to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
Romney: Romney wants to repeal Obama’s health-care plan, stating that the federal government shouldn’t force these duties onto the nation as a whole. He wants states to control health care and compete with one another.
Same-Sex Marriage-
Obama: Obama believes that same-sex couples should have the right to marry. However, he believes this should be left up to the states.
Romney: Romney has stated that he would support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The Economy-
Obama: Obama signed into effect a stimulus bill that included direct spending for infrastructure, education, health and energy. Jobs and employment have slowly but consistently improved in recent years. Labor force participation is still a concern; the rate has dropped lower this year than any time since Obama took office in 2009 — and lower overall than any time since 1981. (The Washington Post)
Romney: Romney favors permanent tax cuts instead of subsidies in order to boost the economy. He has produced an economic plan that calls for cutting the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, lowering tax rates on investments and savings and reducing regulations. (The Washington Post)
“I think the economy is a very important issue because as soon as we graduate college we are going to need to get jobs,” Kate Sullivan, a sophomore at the University of Maryland said.
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