Election Matters

 Jose Martinez

Election Matters

Group 2

This presentation dives into the immigration policy proposals of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, highlighting the stark differences in their approaches. Kamala Harris, representing a Democratic stance focuses on reforming the system to address underlying issues within immigration. Her plan includes closing gaps in the law that allow for exploitation, increasing resources at the border and adding more patrol agents to enhance security while treating migrants humanely. She also advocates for a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, opposes family separation, and pushes for expanded employment and family based visas.On the other hand, Donald Trump presents immigration primarily as a public safety issue. He links certain crimes to undocumented immigrants and attributes these incidents to the current administration’s policies. Trump often references cases involving women and girls allegedly harmed by undocumented immigrants, using these examples to argue for stricter border enforcement as a way to  protect Americans. His approach centers on prioritizing law enforcement and protecting American jobs, though data on the impact of immigration on jobs for groups like African Americans, Hispanics, and union members is still limited.Together, these approaches reflect deeper ideological divides. Harris focuses on reforming and providing pathways within a regulated immigration system, while Trump emphasizes law enforcement and containment. This presentation sheds light on how these different perspectives aim to balance security, humanitarian values, and economic impacts in shaping the future of U.S. immigration policy.

Group 4 

The presentation “Equality and Fundamental Rights” explores essential topics like gender equality, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights and economic inequality. It starts by examining the societal challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, including levels of acceptance and the ways LGBTQ issues influence politics. Through thought provoking questions  it encourages greater understanding and acceptance, inviting reflection on changes needed for LGBTQ rights and ways individuals can help create a more inclusive society.The presentation dives into the pro-life and pro choice debate, sharing perspectives from both sides. Pro life supporters focus on the fetus’s right to life, often grounded in moral or religious beliefs while pro choice advocates emphasize a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body factoring in personal circumstances and health. It also touches on the historical and political significance of this debate, referencing pivotal moments like Roe v. Wade, and provides a broader view with insights from global perspectives and World Health Organization data.The talk also covers issues like the gender pay gap, childcare subsidies and gender based violence. It highlights how women often earn less than men due to factors like job segregation and caregiving responsibilities. Subsidized childcare the talk argues, plays a crucial role in enabling women to engage more fully in the workforce and helps create more balanced family roles. The discussion on gender-based violence underscores its widespread impact and highlights efforts by organizations like the UNFPA to address this problem globally. Overall the presentation calls for ongoing efforts toward equality across all areas of society to protect and uphold everyone’s basic human rights.

Group 3

This presentation by Group Three Elections Matter: Education tackles some critical issues in American schools, like keeping students safe, dealing with bullying, securing funding, protecting student rights, and managing book bans. Bryan Moreno and Nathalia Restrepo open with school safety, emphasizing the need to make sure both students and teachers feel secure. They explore ways to reduce incidents like school shootings, including stricter background checks and mental health support. Restrepo also explains the different forms of bullying, from cyberbullying to peer bullying, and suggests strategies like raising awareness, enforcing anti bullying policies, and creating supportive environments for those affected.In the next section, they covers the topic of school funding and teacher salaries. He explains how school funding varies across the country, depending on state and local sources, with a significant portion allocated to public education. Flores dives into issues teachers face, such as low pay and insufficient pension plans, and discusses possible solutions, including property taxes and federal funding. He also provides a global perspective by comparing U.S. education spending to that of other countries, showing that these challenges aren’t unique to America.Finally, topics the student rights, school uniforms, and book bans. They review the history and purpose of school uniforms, which can promote school pride but might also restrict students’ freedom of expression. Noteworthy court cases like Tinker v. Des Moines highlight students’ rights to free speech at school, while others like Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier set limits on those rights. The presentation wraps up by discussing how traditional education systems may be outdated and the negative effects of censorship on students, calling for changes to keep education relevant and meaningful.