Maintaining the US’s world status during national turmoil

by Anying Guo

Jake Sullivan, 23, understands the importance of the upcoming election, but especially the importance in his home state of Pennsylvania, a swing state that turned red the last election cycle. Though his specific district “went blue” during the presidential election, the West Chester, Pennsylvania native feels the importance of maintaining its Democrat status.

“We need to get this country back on track and this administration has clearly taken it the wrong way,” said Sullivan, emphasizing that those living in swing states like Pennsylvania should prioritize voting even more.

He sees climate change as an urgent, often ignored, national issue that affects everybody, pointing out the “scary projections” of what areas will be unlivable for people. “I want to  make sure that I’m still able to exist on this world in 50 years and so should everyone else,” said Sullivan. “I would sure like to avoid that kind of catastrophe.”

Though he views issues such as climate change and universal health care as important, but continues to circle back to the important issue of the nation’s internal affairs, which centers around how the United States is perceived on a global level.

Sullivan explains what he means; he still sees remaining “the leading country of the liberal world order,” a status quo that he says has existed since WWII, as the most important issue facing the country today.  The current administration gives him a “lack of faith” over ensuring that the United States continues to be a global leader.

“I think with this administration we’re backing away from [that world order] and that’s really dangerous,” said Sullivan. “You can see the consequences of what a world in chaos looks like in different places around the world, be it Yemen or Syria.”

Though he doesn’t know the specific stances his candidate Sue Walker has on important national issues, the choice for Sullivan is obvious and clear: he will be voting Democrat regardless.

“Honestly it’s so easy for me to disregard the Republican candidate when the Republican party has become the party that Trump is in,” he said. “I don’t really have to think about it.”

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