The 2024 presidential election is underway. Early voting has begun and with it hangs the fate of our nation. The candidates for the White House stand in stark contrast to one another in their beliefs and their vision for the United States and its people.

This election is not about personalities despite efforts to make it just that. Election 2024 is solely about political ideology — two diametrically opposed ideologies — and the outcome will determine the future of the United States for generations to come.

The founding principles of the nation are part of the political disagreement. As hard as it is to believe, the Constitution of the United States is under attack. Why? The Constitution is an extremely unique and important document. It tells government what it cannot do. It gives power to the people. Conservatives adhere to it. Liberals want to shred it and start over. They want the reverse of the Constitution: a document that gives government total power over its citizens. The split has drastically changed politics in the United States. Over the past few decades, the gap between political parties has widened beyond belief. A national news media that disgraces itself more and more each day has not helped.

One advantage to voters in 2024 is the availability of recent track records. Donald Trump served one term as president not long ago. Kamala Harris has spent the past four years as vice president and stated recently she would have done nothing different than President Joe Biden.

Again, personalities aside, examine records and policy stances. During Trump’s presidency, America experienced a sound economy, energy independence, lower prices at the supermarket and the gas pump, a secure border, safer streets, lower unemployment and a stronger stance in world politics. As president, Trump ended the Iran nuclear deal and pulled the nation from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

During Harris’ tenure as vice president, the country has experienced rising inflation, much higher prices for food and other essentials and rising unemployment. As “border czar,” Harris’ oversight of the open southern border has cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $150 billion, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). In 2023 alone, the federal government spent over $66 billion on illegal immigrants for housing, health care, educational benefits and welfare, according to FAIR. During that same period, the federal government spent $3 billion on homeless veterans.

Among the 12 million illegals in the U.S. are convicted murderers, rapists, drug cartels and other criminals who have committed violent acts against American

citizens. Aside from the security issue, taxpayers are paying for their housing, food, transportation and other amenities, including sex-change operations.

One other aspect of the border disaster is the designed objective of the mass influx of people: Amnesty and the pathway to citizenship. In short, illegal border crossings are part of a massive Democrat voter registration drive. Flipping states from red to purple and eventually to blue, and the possible beginnings of one-party rule. It happened in California. It could be happening in Texas.

During the past four years under Biden-Harris, there has been a halt to drilling, fracking and the Keystone Pipeline, a renewal of the Iran deal, sending billions of dollars to the world’s most flagrant sponsor of terrorism and billions sent to Ukraine. Harris is on record supporting the Green New Deal, a climate change policy plan that would cost billions and further cripple the U.S. economy. She also favors another major tax increase.

Conservatism vs. liberalism. That is what the election of 2024 is about. Stark contrast that will determine domestic, foreign and economic policy. Contrast that will affect every aspect of life in the United States for generations to come.

Does personality really matter? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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Tom Laub is the Lifestyles Editor at the Lewistown Sentinel.