Presidential Speech

Hello, 5th period. My name is Ashley Carfora and I am running for president. Before I get into my policies, what I support, and all those logistics, let me tell you a bit about myself because all politicians are people just like you, and I hope you like the people you are making politicians. I am the oldest daughter of four with my two younger brothers and my younger sister. Being the oldest has taught me the responsibility to take care of those around me, and it has also given me an appreciation for the people I have in my life. In school, I am a part of many of our fine arts programs. I participate in the plays, musicals, choir, and the madrigals program. The fine arts have taught me the importance of collaboration, communication, and teamwork. In the arts we are constantly working towards making the best piece of art we can to share with people and bring joy to an audience. The arts have given me the confidence I need to express myself, and have taught me to not be fearful of my opinions but to share them. This confidence has allowed me to speak out about issues within our community and has made me feel comfortable questioning and communicating with authority figures. I am also a part of our district's social media and digital awareness committee where we are working towards making our district more aware of the benefits and downfalls of our current digital era. I am very involved within our community and because of my involvement, I have ideas on what needs to be improved and how to bring those ideas to life. I want to take every opportunity I can to make a difference in the place I love. That is why I am running for president, to better our country. 

One way I will do that is with healthcare. I believe every American has the right to affordable healthcare. I want to allow private medical practitioners to continue their practices as they continue to innovate and improve the health of Americans across the nation. On top of this, I want to expand public healthcare funding, giving lower-income Americans access to affordable healthcare because healthcare is a right, not a privilege. With this plan, we will have a strong public system that ensures basic care for all, while private options provide choice and innovation, creating a fair and effective healthcare system.

Moving on to our budget and spending. I am committed to responsible financial policies that balance economic growth with necessary social investments. I believe we need to reduce our country's debt over time through smart and targeted investments that will boost our economy, improve infrastructure, and enhance social safety nets. I plan to invest in infrastructure projects that will create jobs and stimulate economic growth such as clean energy and transportation. I will also reduce our unnecessary military spending and close tax loopholes for big corporations and the ultra-wealthy. By implementing tax reforms we can ensure there is a fair contribution from high-income earners while protecting middle and lower-income households. 

Regarding the safety of our country, I believe we need to continue to have the world's strongest military to protect democracy around the world. We need to support these brave men and women when they transition back to civilian life. We must provide our veterans with access to higher education and allow them to have the life they deserve. When elected, I will continue to support legislation such as the G.I. Bill and post 9/11 G.I. Bill that will help our veterans. This bill guarantees that all post-9/11 veterans have access to college education, ensuring they can secure their lives once they come home. I will continue to advocate for these types of bills because men and women who risk their lives for us deserve to be taken care of when they come back home. 

Concerning our country's safety I also would like to speak on our immigration policy. I believe in creating a fair, humane, and efficient immigration system that balances national security with compassion, as well as economic growth. As a party, we support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria such as passing background checks, paying taxes, and contributing positively to our society. We also want to emphasize securing our borders by enhancing technology. We will also implement a streamlined visa system to reduce waiting times for family-based and employment-based visas. I believe that anyone who wants to become a citizen of our wonderful country has a right to do so if they are found to be a good contributor to our society.

Now moving on to the social issues that I am most passionate about. Regarding abortion, I believe a woman has a right to her body, her autonomy, and her right to choose. It has been found that decades of research consistently show that abortion bans and restrictions don’t reduce unintended pregnancy or the demand for abortion, and do not improve women’s health. Instead, they impose significant hurdles to obtaining care, causing stress for people in need of an abortion. We already have a high maternal mortality rate compared to other developed countries, and banning abortions is only killing more of these women. Banning abortions doesn't stop the need for them and only makes them unsafe and less accessible. I plan to reimplement Roe v. Wade into our country, making abortion a fundamental right and making government restrictions on this medical care illegal. As a government, we should trust our citizens to do what is best for themselves. 

The final policy I will speak on today is gun control. I am supportive of our constitutional right to own and legally use firearms. I do not plan on taking away guns from individuals who are safely and legally using them. However, I believe the process of purchasing a firearm needs to be altered. Too many times we have bore witness to horrific events that have occurred with firearms and we have lost too many lives. This is why I plan to pass legislation requiring increased amounts of background checks, and this is also why I plan to modify existing agencies and laws to ensure these background checks are being thoroughly completed and enforced nationwide. It is found that denying firearms to individuals who are legally prohibited from gun ownership leads to reductions in the risk of violence among those denied individuals. Therefore, by increasing background checks, we will greatly increase the safety of our citizens. 

As I’m wrapping up, I want to leave you with one final message. I truly care about the people of this country, and I want the best for every citizen of this proud nation. That is because Carfora cares. I care about each and every one of you and I want to help give you the opportunity to live your best life in this beautiful country. That opportunity starts with your vote. When you go to vote I hope you remember what I’ve told you today and I hope you mark down Ashley Carfora: because Carfora Cares.