Belfield Banter Vol. 6: The Election Issue

Nov 2nd, 2020

Vol. 6

Th e S t . An ne’s -B el fi el d S choo l S tud en t New s l etter

BELFIELD BANTER THE

In This Issue:

OVERVIEW OF THE BALLOT THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ELECTION EDITOR’S NOTE

OVERVIEW OF THE BALLOT

by Katherine Perriello --

What’s on the Charlottesville Ballot?

Ballot Measures: Virginia Question 1:

Redistricting Commission Amendment (2020):

This amendment would establish a redistricting commission made up of eight members of the general assembly and eight citizens of Virginia in order to draw the congressional and state legislative districts. Those lines would then be voted on by the general assembly. This would be a change from the current system, where the Virginia general assembly draws the congressional and state legislative bounds, with the Governor of Virginia having veto power.

Virginia Question 2:

Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Amendment (2020): This amendment would exempt automobile and pickup truck taxes if they are owned and primality used by a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who was permanently disabled while serving.

Races: U.S. House Virginia District 5:

Dr. Cameron Webb v. Bob Good:

Dr. Cameron Webb is a practicing physician in Charlottesville. He grew up in Spotsylvania, VA

Th e Ele c t i o n Iss u e

and graduated from the University of Virginia.

After getting his medical and law degree, he served on the White House Health Care Team under President Obama. Dr. Webb’s campaign has focused on access to healthcare, supporting a public health insurance option, and working across party lines. He has also focused on COVID-19 relief, reforming criminal justice, and protecting our environment. See more at: https://www.drcameronwebb.com/ Bob Good grew up in Lynchburg, VA and graduated from Liberty University. Good worked at CitiFinancial and Liberty University before being elected to serve on the Campbell Country Board of Supervisors in 2015. Good’s campaign and career has focused on encouraging economic growth, prioritizing funding and support for law enforce, defending the 2nd amendment.

See more at: https://www.bobgoodforcongress. com/ U.S. Senate Virginia:

Sen. Mark Warner v. Dr. Daniel Gade:

Senator Mark Warner has served as Virginia U.S. senator since 2009. Previously, Sen. Warner served as Governor of Virginia for 4 years and graduated from George Washington University and received a law degree from Harvard Law School.

During his time in office, he has focused on increasing government accountability, job creation, working on solutions to our countries debt, and establishing himself as a bipartisan leader.

See more at: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/ Dr. Daniel Gade is a retired U.S. Armey lieutenant colonel. He served in the military for more than 20 years and lost his right leg in Iraq. He went on to earn his PhD in public administration and policy and served in President Bush’s administration. His campaign focusses on economic growth, individual liberty, and constitutional fidelity.

See more at: https://gadeforvirginia.com/about/ [cont p2]

President of the United States:

President Donald Trump v.

Former Vice President Joe Biden

President Donald Trump was born in Queens, NY. He went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham University. He currently serves as the 45th President of the United States. Previously, he was a real estate mogul and reality television star. President Trump has focused his campaign on job creation, eradicating COVID-19, and defending our police. He believes in an “America First” foreign policy plan and in defending American values. President Trump’s running mate is Vice President Mike Pence, who serves as Governor of Indiana before becoming Vice President.

See more at: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ Former Vice President Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Delaware and Syracuse University Law School. Biden was elected as U.S. senator of Delaware in 1972 and served from 1973 to 2009 in the U.S. Senate. Joe Biden served as Vice President from 2009 to 2017 to President Barrack Obama. Joe Biden’s campaign has focused on COVID-19 relief, environmental justice, and healthcare reform. Joe Biden’s running mate is Kamala Harris, who currently serves as U.S. Senator for California.

See more at: https://joebiden.com/ To learn more about what would be on your ballot, visit: ballotpedia.org

THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM

by Hayley Chisholm -Politics in the United States are often described as a “two party system” despite there being more than one active party on most ballots. People are typically expected to fall into one category: Democrat, Republican, or in some cases, a third party like the Libertarian or Green party. While this may seem like a simple way of doing things, it does bring out a certain laziness in Americans; Democrats nearly always vote blue and Republicans vote red, regardless of a candidate’s philosophies. This is a phenomenon known to political scientists by the term “party voting.” People often don’t even know who they’re really voting for; they just know their party.

Yet politics are a spectrum, and not everyone can be put into a box of red or blue; there are many colors in between. Therefore, people should reflect intelligently on the issues they value most, and then vote for the candidate with objectively similar ideals.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING

by Sasha Rinkevich -As you are probably aware, we have a huge election coming up, and it is more important than ever to vote. Our country is at a crossroads, and the outcome of this election will determine what the next four years and beyond will look like for our country, and more broadly, for our world. We have seen what four years of having Donald Trump as our president have looked like. We have seen how the Trump Administration has handled the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, how President Trump has addressed systemic racism, the economy, immigration, and what he has done for LGBTQ+ rights. And we have now heard how Joe Biden would tackle these same issues. The difference between these two candidates is vast.

The next four years under these two presidents are completely different worlds, and it is up to the American people to decide which of these worlds we want to live in. Therefore it is more necessary than ever to vote.

Voting looks different this year due to COVID-19, [cont p3] Nov 2nd, 2020

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emissions related to Fossil Fuel. In 2016, the U.S pledged $3 billion dollars (this amounts to just about $9 per person) to the Paris Agreements various efforts of lowering global emissions. Before the current administration began withdrawing we had only paid $1 billion of the promised $3 billion. As we withdrew President Trump cited ‘financial and economic burdens’ on the workers of the United States. but in many ways it is easier than ever! You can vote by mail, vote early in-person, or vote in-person on Election Day. The method you choose doesn’t make a difference (as long as you are safe and timely), but it is incredibly important to educate yourself on each candidate. Local elections are crucial too!

If you feel disheartened by what happened in 2016, you are not alone. But the best way to preserve our democracy is by exercising our right to vote. Vote for the candidate that you believe will best protect your rights and the rights of others. Vote for the candidate that you believe will set a good example for future generations. It is so important to stay educated, stay vocal, and stay optimistic about the future of our country.

While $3 billion dollars is a large commitment, the U.S taxpayers have paid $141 million dollars for Mr.Trump’s golf excursions, the current 2020 corpo rate tax cut is estimated to add another trillion dollar deficit to the national debt, and the administration has had to allocate $2.4 billion dollars just this year to manage the wildfires currently burning our West coast.

The election is on November 3rd.

Get out and vote!

THIS ELECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

by Hannah Laufer — Our country, once leading the effort to reverse climate change, has now turned its back, slipped off the podium, and is bleeding out onto the steps of UN headquarters. As we come ever closer to the Presidential election, I believe it's important to reflect on this current administration's flagrant disregard for climate change, and its impact on human life.

In 2016, Donald Trump called climate change a “ hoax,” and after he got elected, Trump was quoted saying he's “not a big fan” of the Paris Agreement (every single country in the world has pledged and signed this agreement). In order for the Paris Agreement to even get ratified, the 55 countries that represented 55% of all global emissions had to sign, and in 2015 the U.S was responsible for 15% of all CO2

In 2019 alone, the United States of America faced 14 severe climate related catastrophes, which resulted in $50 billion dollars being used in relief efforts. These climate catastrophes include inland floods, tropical cyclones, and wildfires.

The Missouri river and North Central Flooding engulfed cities and towns, millions of acres of various agriculture, left roads, bridges, and dams crumbling; and flooded our Offutt Air Force base in Nebraska. This inland flood was one of the costliest, having resulted in three deaths, and an estimated $10.8 billion dollars sent in to provide relief.

When confronted with the reality of thousands of Americans being displaced, losing their homes, and experiencing skyrocketing temperatures due to wildfires, President Trump blamed the lack of “forest management.” When Governor Crawford asked President Trump to confront changing climate he responded with: “It will get cooler just you watch,” and “I don’t think science knows.”

Science knows, and we are paying on average $43.9 billion dollars per year in Climate relief.

Americans are dying, losing property, and are being placed in a financial crisis, and the President of the United States of America has the audacity to call it a ‘hoax.’

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EDITOR’S NOTE Ellie Powell (E.I.C.) – Working for The Belfield Banter is one of the great joys I experience on a weekly basis, in large part because I love reading my peers’ work. I have found this edition particularly enjoyable to work on due to the sheer sophistication with which my fellow students can write about this election. In truth, I do not love politics. I find it taxing to argue with friends about policy detail, and I have ruined the soles of many shoes by knocking on doors for weeks on end. Yet every fall, you can find me working in a new campaign office, answering calls and training people to canvass for the first time.

I do not love what “talking politics” has come to mean, but I do love helping people. Nothing makes me happier than registering someone to vote for the first time, or electing a candidate with practical ideas that will help those less fortunate than myself. When students ask me what the best way to become involved with our greater community of Charlottesville is, I always tell them to try phone banking. There, you will meet like-minded people of all ages who truly value the notion of serving their community.

When Jack Dozier, our junior editor, mentioned the prospect of an election edition of The Belfield Banter, I was ecstatic. We reached out to Republicans and Democrats alike, and published every piece that members of our community submitted.

If you do not feel that this newsletter appropriately represents your opinion, I request that you submit an article of your own to this publication next week rather than simply complaining. While we are rapidly approaching November 3rd, I hope that the articles you read in this newsletter will inspire you to work on future political campaigns, or get involved in local government. Campaign managers often say, “There is November third, but then November fourth, fifth, and sixth.” No matter the outcome of the election, we cannot stop working to create a better future for ourselves and our children.

The Banter Staff: Eleanor Powell----------------------------------Editor-in-Chief Jack Dozier---------------------------------------Junior Editor Emily Gohn--------------------------------------Features Editor Hannah Laufer-----------------------------------Sports Editor Emma Finley-Gillis-----------------------------Director of Graphics & Formatting Sonia Kamath------------------------------------Director of Student Outreach

Lo o k o u t fo r o ur w ee kly ed i ti on s con ti n ui n g thi s fa l l !

Nov 2nd, 2020

Vol. 6