This story at a glance…

1. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer sharply different policies on inflation, taxes, and immigration.

2. Harris focuses on helping working families, expanding abortion rights, and supporting Ukraine.

3. Trump plans to lower energy costs through oil drilling, cut taxes for the wealthy, and impose new tariffs.

4. Both diverge strongly on healthcare, climate, and gun control, making this election a choice between two contrasting visions for America.

Harris vs. Trump: A Policy Breakdown

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump present sharply different visions for America's future, so understanding their positions on key issues is essential before casting a vote. Here’s a clear, point-by-point breakdown of their stances on major topics.

Inflation
Kamala Harris: Harris aims to reduce living costs for working families. Her plan includes banning price-gouging on groceries and providing incentives to increase housing supply. She also supports measures to help first-time homebuyers.
Donald Trump: Trump promises to lower inflation by boosting oil drilling, which he believes will reduce energy costs. He also proposes lowering interest rates and deporting undocumented immigrants to ease housing pressure. However, experts are skeptical of his plans to impose higher import taxes, which they say could raise prices.

Taxes
Kamala Harris: Harris supports raising taxes on big businesses and individuals making over $400,000 annually. She also plans to expand child tax credits and proposes a moderate rise in capital gains tax.
Donald Trump: Trump’s tax plan centers on extending his 2017 tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthy. He claims this will be offset by economic growth and tariffs on imports, though analysts warn this approach could significantly increase the national deficit.

Abortion
Kamala Harris: Abortion rights are a central issue in Harris's campaign. She advocates for federal legislation to protect reproductive rights nationwide.
Donald Trump: Trump's position on abortion is less consistent. While the Supreme Court justices he appointed helped overturn Roe v. Wade, his current stance is less clear, and he has struggled to present a definitive policy.

Immigration
Kamala Harris: Harris has focused on addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, securing private investments in the region. She also highlights her experience as a prosecutor dealing with human trafficking.
Donald Trump: Trump promises to finish building the border wall and conduct the largest deportation of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history. He has also vowed to block immigration reforms that Harris supports. His plan would likely face legal challenges.

Foreign Policy
Kamala Harris: Harris supports continued aid to Ukraine and aims to keep the U.S. competitive with China. She has consistently backed a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and calls for an end to the war in Gaza.
Donald Trump: Trump advocates for an isolationist foreign policy. He claims he would negotiate an end to the Ukraine war within 24 hours, a move critics argue could embolden Russia. Trump has also expressed strong support for Israel but has provided few specifics on the Gaza conflict.

Trade
Kamala Harris: Harris opposes Trump’s broad tariffs, arguing that they hurt working families. She supports more targeted tariffs, such as those on Chinese electric vehicles.
Donald Trump: Trump has made tariffs a centerpiece of his campaign. He proposes imposing new tariffs of 10-20% on most foreign goods, especially those from China. He believes this will protect American manufacturing, though economists caution it could drive up consumer prices.

Climate and Energy
Kamala Harris: Harris helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which directs significant funding toward renewable energy. She now supports some fracking, a shift from her earlier stance against it.
Donald Trump: Trump’s energy policy focuses on expanding oil drilling, particularly in the Arctic. He rolled back numerous environmental protections during his presidency and is critical of the push toward electric vehicles.

Healthcare
Kamala Harris: Harris's healthcare initiatives have included capping insulin prices and reducing prescription drug costs. She supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has expanded health insurance to millions of Americans.
Donald Trump: Trump has long called for repealing the ACA but now says he would improve it, though he hasn’t provided details. He has also proposed taxpayer-funded fertility treatment, a move that could face opposition from within his own party.

Law and Order
Kamala Harris: Harris often points to her experience as a prosecutor to address crime, contrasting this with Trump’s criminal conviction in a civil fraud case.
Donald Trump: Trump promises to crack down on drug cartels and gangs. He has also pledged to deploy the military or National Guard to address civil unrest, labeling some groups as “the enemy within.”

Guns
Kamala Harris: Harris advocates for stricter gun laws, including expanding background checks and banning assault weapons. These measures, however, would require cooperation from Congress.
Donald Trump: Trump positions himself as a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. He has a close relationship with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and opposes stricter gun control laws.

Reflection
When faced with such diverse and often conflicting policy choices, it’s important to remember the words of James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” As we consider each candidate's values, let us seek wisdom from above, trusting that God’s guidance will lead us toward justice, mercy, and truth.