Key Issues Discussed in the Debate
The ever-changing landscape of American politics offers a prime stage for candidates to showcase their intent and connect with voters. And no platform is quite as effective for those purposes as a good old-fashioned debate. The recent appearance of Vice Presidential candidates Tim Vance and Kamala Harris afforded viewers the chance to get a look at both candidates and learn what they might do if elected. But the appearance of the candidates—and the appearance of the ideas they represent—was what the debate was truly about. Immigrant detention, the right to an abortion, and the integrity of the nation’s elected officials weren’t just issues brought up to score political points. They aren’t just talking points, either; they’re life-and-death matters for millions of Americans that these candidates will have the power to affect. And the way both candidates approached these hefty topics was worth the price of admission.
This article maintains that the debate brought to light the pressing requirement for a clear and coherent immigration policy, the protection of women’s rights, and the maintenance of democratic principles. It presents the viewpoint that while both debate participants made their cases, the real problems behind the issues raised need more than surface attention. They require, in fact, a commitment to finding solutions that will work and that will resonate with the clear majority of the American public.
Immigration Policy and Economic Impact
The issues under debate extend far beyond the political realm. A survey done by the Pew Research Center indicates that nearly 60% of Americans see immigration as a very important issue. Approximately 25 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., and poor immigration policy affects communities all over the country. According to a report from the Guttmacher Institute, 1 in 4 American women will have an abortion by age 45. In yet another discourse that is being taken from the realm of statistics to become a debated political talking point, the issue of access to safe and legal abortion is very pertinent and immediate.
Dr. Linda Green, a political scientist at the University of California, is one expert who views the intersection of these issues as a reflection of something deeper in American society. “When we fail to address immigration and women’s rights, we are not just neglecting policy; we are dismissing the humanity of those affected,” she says.
The claim made by Vance, that housing costs are driven up by millions of undocumented immigrants, reflects a frequent storyline of blaming immigrants for much larger economic problems. But immigration can be and usually is an economic plus, boosting the U.S. economy by filling labor gaps and inducing innovation. The more direct way to look at the immigration issue is to see it as one directly under the control of the U.S. government and capable of being improved for the benefit of all Americans, rather than as a goofup by immigrants.
Candidates’ Performance and Public Perception
The intensified political polarization and the public’s growing discontent formed the backdrop for the debate. The candidates could hardly have been more different, giving the event the feel of an old-time political showdown. Republican J.D. Vance is fighting an uphill battle to become U.S. senator from Ohio—and he has the lowest statewide approval ratings of any U.S. senator up for reelection this year. So Vance must besiege to at least appear to have a good shot. Therapy for his image problem included looking like he cares about something. Therapy for Kamala Harris, on the other hand, included only the most superficial attempts to defend the indefensible. Harris’ policies are no better than Vance’s, and immigration became the entry point for a discussion of their differences. Those differences pretty much boil down to the fact that Vance and Harris would do things differently.
The discussion addressed the touchy topic of reproductive health care. Vance accepted that there was a trust-building issue among young women that needed to be addressed. Yet when he talked about unplanned pregnancies, he seemed to frame them as something that threatened young women’s educational and economic trajectories. This does raise some worries about what kind of society we live in that would allow unplanned pregnancies to serve as such big roadblocks and what kind of support women facing these circumstances get. As Dr. Sarah Thompson put it, “Access to health care, including abortion, is basic to women’s autonomy and much more relevant to their economic stability than the Edu crisis making up part of Vance’s campaign pitch.”
Agreement on Future Challenges and Solutions
The candidates talked about election integrity and what happened after the 2020 election. They were divided on how to interpret those events. In these discussions, Vance showed a reluctance to directly state whether Trump lost the election. This is a way, I think, of propping up a narrative of victory that is good for the Republican base but bad for democratic institutions. Political analyst Dr. Michael Carter warns, “When leaders refuse to acknowledge electoral outcomes, they undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”
Some may contend that J.D. Vance’s uncompromising position on immigration and reproductive rights reflects the opinions of a large swath of the electorate. However, the polling data that keeps coming in indicate that a significant, and growing, portion of the populace hold quite different views—views that are far more accepting of immigration and far more supportive of the right to choose.
These debates have very significant consequences for the average American. The policies we are discussing will determine the future of healthcare, housing, and economic stability for millions. As citizens, we must understand not only these issues but also their interconnectedness. They are, after all, the basis for making better-informed decisions at the ballot box. The implications of these debates, I would argue, reach far beyond healthcare. They cut to the very fabric of American democracy. They pertain to the rights of individuals and the integrity of the institutions that underpin American life.
The recent clash of ideas between Vance and Harris brought attention to key concerns about immigration, women’s rights, and democracy. These are basic rights and protections that many people have been fighting for a long time. Both candidates put forth their main ideas, but these are complex issues that can’t be resolved with “up and down votes,” even on the Senate floor. As with all election campaigning, the discussion was more about making a favorable impression on voters than finding real, honest-to-goodness solutions.
The choices we make today are certain to influence tomorrow’s America, no matter how much or how quickly the political landscape may change. We bear a shared and undivided responsibility to give our all to what we believe in—to be as kind and good as we can, as many times each day as we need to be a good example and as we need to stick together in advocating for policies that reflect our nearly universal values of love, kindness, compassion, and democracy.