Whether it's about the national debt, health care, or unemployment, talk surrounding "The Next Generation" always looms large in Washington. Politicians plead to parents and grandparents alike that their political beliefs will lead to a better future for America's youth than the beliefs of their opponents. A lot of the time, this loud-mouthed political rhetoric is nothing more than, well, loud-mouthed political rhetoric. But all those times that Governor Romney and President Obama stated that the results of the upcoming presidential election could have catastrophic effects on the next generation, they weren't engaging in hyperbole. This election has the potential to radically change the course of millions of teenagers' lives. Here are five issues being debated this election that, depending on who wins, could drastically alter the lives of teens around the country.
1. The National Debt: How To Address It
- Both Governor Romney and President Obama believe that the rapidly rising U.S. National Debt is a major issue for the country, but (as you might suspect) they differ on how they plan to address the problem.
- President Obama's landmark piece of legislation in his first term was the Affordable Care Act. With it, he allowed children to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26, providing many late teens and college graduates with health care. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act makes it much easier for all children to obtain health insurance.
3. Environment: Gas Prices vs. Global Warming
- President Obama has supported legislation, such as cap-and-trade, that would incentivize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Education Reform
- Both Governor Romney and President Obama have called for changes to the education system in America.
5. Birth Control: Expanding or Decreasing Accessibility
- More and more teenagers around the U.S. have been using contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STD's.