Presidential elections

Author’s name


The United States’ election, and search for the45thPresident, is scheduled on the 8thof November 2016. There are different independent and third partycandidates running for the presidency however, the essay focuses onthe four major candidates: “Donald Trump,Republican Party Hillary Clinton, Democratic Party Gary Johnson,Libertarian Party Jill Stein, Green Party” (The Briefing, 2016).Despite the presence of many candidates, many political analysts arepredicting a tight race between Donald Triumph and Hillary Clinton,who serve the two principal parties in the United States. Thisarticle discusses the 2016 American presidential election andprovides a comparative analysis of the candidates, based on theirpolicies on job creation, tax reforms, and immigration.

Republican Party: Donald J Trump

Donald Trump became the flag-bearer of theRepublican Party, after managing to beat stiff competition from otherRepublicans such as Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, among others. During hispresidential campaign, Donald Trump proposed several policies that hewould enact to ensure that the people of the United benefited fromhis reign. Trump’s tax plan is to reduce tax across the board,especially for the middle class and working Americans. He alsointends to ensure the rich pay their share of tax, but not too muchto destroy their ability to compete[CITATION Tax16 l 1033 ].Donald Trump also intends to create 25million in new jobs in the American economy over the next decade[CITATION www16 l 1033 ].Lastly, the Republican candidate’simmigration plan is to enforce strict immigration laws and selectimmigrants based on their likelihood of succeeding in the US. Trumpalso intends to build a wall separating Mexico and the US in a bid toreduce the number of immigrants entering America through Mexico[ CITATION www6c l 1033 ].

Democrat Party Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic Party flagbearer who beat fierce competition from candidates like BernieSanders and Martin O`Malley. During her campaign, Clinton hashighlighted her tax plan, which includes cutting tax for allindividuals who earn less than $250000 and increasing taxes forcorporation and individuals who make more than $250000. Hillary’sposition on immigration is to adopt an open door policy that admitsimmigrants and provide them a pathway to citizenship if they provetheir value to the country. Clinton plans to create approximately 15million jobs in the American economy[ CITATION The16 l 1033 ].

Libertarian Party: Gary Johnson

Like the two primary candidates, the Libertariancandidate, Gary Johnson also has own policies, which he intends toenforce once he becomes the president. Johnson’s tax plan wantsAmericans to have a revenue neutral fair tax. He plans to replaceinheritance tax with a fair tax and eliminate the IRS[CITATION OnT16 l 1033 ].On the issue of job creation, Johnson is of the opinion thatgovernments are not responsible for creating jobs. He stated thatbusinesses are responsible for creatingjobs. In spite of this, Johnson intends to raise the minimum wage to$75 per hour[ CITATION OnT6b l 1033 ].Johnson’s opinion on immigration was that he would not build wallsor conduct mass deportation. Instead, he promised incentivizedassimilation of immigrants.

Green Party: Jill Stein

Green Party’s Jill Stein is also a presidentialcandidate with a vision for the United States. According toOnTheIssue (2016c), Stein immigration is to end the fear mongeringspread by the Republican campaign and provide a legal path forimmigrants to be integrated into the US. The candidate hopes toterminate the war on immigrants and secure communities from cruelty.Stein’s tax plan is to ensure that the rich pay between 55-60% tax,increase inheritance taxes, and close tax loops and corporatewelfare[CITATION OnT6d l 1033 ]. Lastlysteins position on job creation is to ensure that the American publichas guaranteed jobs for all who need work. Stein wants to focus onpink jobs (jobs of meeting human needs). She intends to create jobsbut not by using tax breaks as proposed by other candidates.According to Stein, America should create full employment programthat is ecologically sustainable and meet the community needs[ CITATION OnT6e l 1033 ].


The 2016 American election, which is to be heldon November 8, 2016, is one of the most heavily contested elections,with the leading candidates from the Republican and Democratic Partybeing very close in the polls. Nonetheless, there are more than twocandidates, and this paper has provided a policy review of the fourtop candidates from Republican, Democratic Green, and LibertarianParties. While Trump’s intention is to cut across the board, deportimmigrants, create 25 million jobs and build a wall, Hillary Clintonwants to cut taxes for people earning below $250000 a year, create 15million jobs, and have open borders. On the other hand, Gary Johnsontax plan entails the elimination of the IRS and introduction of arevenue-neutral fair tax. Johnson’s immigration plan is to provideincentivized assimilation, and his job plan is to encourage businessto create jobs. Stein took a different approach by indicating thatshe intends to push inheritance tax up and also to createecologically sustainable employment and guarantee employment to allAmericans.


OnTheIssue. (2016a, November 8). Retrieved from Gary Johnson on Tax Reform.

OnTheIssue. (2016b, November 8). Retrieved from Gary Johnson on Jobs:

OnTheIssue. (2016c, November 8). Retrieved from Jill Stein on Immigration:

OnTheIssue. (2016d, November 8). Retrieved from Jill Stein on Tax Reform:

OnTheIssue. (2016e, November 8). Retrieved from Jill Stein on Jobs:

The Briefing. (2016, November 8). Retrieved from Hillary Clinton’s 100-Day Jobs Plan: (2016a, November 8). Retrieved from Tax Plan: (2016b, November 8). Retrieved from Economy: (2016c, November 8). Retrieved from Immigration: