“ On the issues  “

By

Casey Canfield  

Intro

This year the number one story has been the election. Not only on the basis that 2016 is a presidential election year, but also due to the candidates. In particular Donald J Trump. His name for the last 7-8 months has been on every social media, newspaper, and magazine. On November 8th he defeated the odds and won the presidential election. To many this came as a surprise. For  the “#notmypresident,” people and  Trump supporters alike, were all stuck with him for the next 4 years. The best way to move on, is to move on together. We can use this as a growing strategy for our country and rebuild, and reunite America.

 The Importance of a president is what their policies do for the country and what they inspire people to do and become. Any individual can go to the President elects website to learn about what policies he will be running with, and where he stands on certain topics. I wanted to see how duluth stands, with Trump, or against Trump. In my investigation I took 6 issues that really represent Donald trump and put them against what  a couple of Duluth's council members think of the policies, and how they see it effecting the duluth people.

“Build that wall”

To be? or not to be?

During his "ticket for the candidacy speech" he talked about immigration. In direct he called out Mexico and our crumbling border security. “The wall” became the biggest topic in the weeks to come. I spoke with Gary Anderson from duluth’s 1st district, and I asked him, ‘all the way up in the North land how can this affect us?” He said it could really effect the North Land and surrounding areas. Stating “ minorities fill jobs, and we need them for our economy to thrive.” Em Westerlund from the 3rd district said now that “Trump understands just how much that wall would cost and the implications it may have for relations with Mexico, he may change his mind.”

“Trump and the Northland”

Another hit or miss with the Northland voters is working class policies. In Minnesota's 8 th district Trump one by 12 points showing that duluth and surrounding areas valued his planes over the opponents. I wanted to see how the same chair members viewed trump closing the wealth gap, and helping out small business. They both had very different ideas then the way the 8th district voted. With Em stating “There is widely documented evidence that in previous "deals" Trump has stiffed the contractors and construction workers for many of us projects, dramatically underpaying them or refusing to pay them at all.” In her defence she is right, Trump has had shady deals in his past but as president you don’t sign paychecks, your job is to create jobs and supply funding for upgrading infrastructure. Gary Anderson told me over the phone “ I don’t see Trump narrowing the gap.” I find myself in the middle of the people and our officials. I suppose we'll have to see in the coming year.

“Marriage rights”

In the past 2 years marriage rights have been a huge topic. For LGBTQ supportors, Trump is seen as a potential insurgent for keeping their rights. Gary Anderson told me he “worried about what Trump's presidential policies might do to the gay and lesbian community in duluth.” Maybe not revoking the new law, but a rising discrimination toward gays and lesbians, by Trumps supporters could put some LGBTQ supporters on edge.

“The international community”

Does the international community depend on peace between
the U.S. and Russia? 

A little known or talked about subject is, international war tensions. Russia, Crimea, China, Syria, and korea are all prepared for war how does America stand, and how can Trump help diffuse the situation. Em Westerlund in her response seem more concerned about what Trump could do to effect the tensions rather than how our relationship with Russia is progressing. Donald Trump stated that war through peace is our only way. He went on to detail his military plans which include rebuilding our military, and building my strengths rather than weaknesses. While we talked  Gary Anderson  seemed skeptical of what Trump will do. Leaning towards the negative consequences. In a joking but stern voice he told me” it’s a good thing for checks and balances.” After his elections the UN put the nucular warfare watch down to a 1 from a 3.  A rating of 5 being M.A.D.

“Concluding thoughts”

In conclusion, I acknowledged that some of the chair members differed in their political stances from how the general public voted. In this investigation one thing I really learned is that there is always another side to everything. We won’t know till we really know. Until Trump actually takes office, all we can do is speculate what he may do, and hope for the best. Good luck America!