Elections

A linkage institution are channels that transfer public opinion into policy change. Voting and the election that it leads to is a great example of a linkage institution because the people voice their opinion by voting and it translates into policy change by the politicians that are put into office through the election. Elections influence people’s political beliefs specifically in the campaigns. A candidate might say something that you agree with even if you do not agree with the party that represents them. I chose to write about the 2016 Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Following I will summarize the candidate's views for America and how they intend to make that change if elected

Candidate 1:

Hillary Clinton is an American politician, affiliated with the Democratic party. She was the first lady from 1993 to 2001, New York Senator from 2001-2009, and Presidential Candidate in 2008 and 2016. Clinton advocates the importance mental health by promoting early intervention and diagnosis, improve access to housing and jobs, and investing in behavioral sciences research. Clinton also believes in is equal opportunity or radical justice through protecting immigrant rights, validating Puerto Ricans as Americans, and encouraging early education. Finally, a third issue that Clinton strongly believes in is women’s rights. Clinton is an advocate for women's rights who believes that the country should take measures to close the wage gap, confront violence on college campuses, and defend the essential health and reproductive care provided by organizations like Planned Parenthood. Below is an image of Clinton at the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Hillary declared that “women's rights are human rights.” Here she also advocated for family medical leave, funding child care and started the campaign to end teen pregnancy.

In 1995, Hillary led the U.S. delegation to Beijing to attend the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women, despite being told by some officials not to go. She gave a groundbreaking speech, declaring that “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights once and for all”—inspiring women around the world.

This article is a testament to the experience that Clinton has as a leader and more specifically as an advocate for women's rights. It is also stating that Clinton is not afraid to defy what people want her to do to be an advocate for what she believes is the greater good.

Candidate 2:

Donald Trump is a businessman, television personality, and 2016 Republican presidential candidate. As a politician he believes in putting the American people first through  the deportation of illegal immigrants, heavily increasing screening of Muslim immigrants, and increasing American jobs. Trump believes in repealing ObamaCare to decrease health care prices, increase insurance options and reducing taxes. A third issue that Trump advocates for is the strengthening of the US military by increasing veteran care, safeguarding against cyberware, and increasing missile defence system to protect against threats like North Korea.

Donald Trump Campaign Video (Link)

The article above is a  campaign video that clearly shows Trump's campaign platform. He believes in changing the status quo that the American government has had in the past. He wants to give the power back to the people to encourage this change. The background has working americans and Trump shaking hands with a worker in a warehouse. He is one with the people and supports job creation and the American Dream.