Longtime friends differ in politics, but share in values
Age: 22
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: None
Home:
Hometown:
Profession: Recent college graduate, 2017-18 Governor's Fellow
Education:
Veteran: No
Religion: Christian
Political affiliation: Republican
Organizations: Former Indiana Chair of College Republicans, involved in
------
Age: 21
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: 3-year-old daughter
Home:
Hometown:
Profession: Entry-level manager, Amazon
Education:
Veteran: No
Religion: Christian
Political affiliation: Democrat
Organizations: Amazon Associates Activities Committee (volunteer work for community)
Howard, a 22-year-old
Sitting on the back porch of Howard's family home in
Their ability to do so civilly amidst an oftentimes vitriolic national discourse might in part be attributed to their shared values. Howard and Karsner both identify as Christian, but their vision of equal opportunity for all goes beyond religion. It's simply what they think is right; what they think America is all about.
" ... we live in a free society and there's a lot of opportunity here in
He thinks of his grandfather, who Howard said was born into a poor family in
"He always has been a role model for me in what he was able to achieve in that sense, because I think in a lot of [other] countries, it is hard to move up that ladder, the socio-economic ladder."
For Karsner, the most important American hallmark is the practice of helping others in need. She said she grew up in a family that didn't have a lot of money and depended on assistance to get by. She was able to go to school and eventually college, where she earned a degree in business management. Now she works for a Fortune 500 company and can give her 3-year-old daughter the things she didn't have growing up.
"And it's not because I'm genius ... it's because I have a country and a government that was willing to step up and help me and help my parents to raise children," Karsner said. "And now I have an opportunity to give my daughter that without actually having to go to a government for help."
IN THE VOTING BOOTH
Voting for someone who shares their values is important to Howard and Karsner, but it's not always so cut and dry. As a Christian, Karsner said she tries to separate her political views with her religious beliefs. She doesn't like the idea of abortion, and it isn't something she would personally do, but she's pro-choice because she believes others -- including those who are non-Christian -- should have the right to decide for themselves.
Howard, also a Christian, is pro-life. He's also pro-gay marriage, an issue many of his fellow Christians and conservatives don't support. But for Howard, it boils down to what he thinks is right, issue by issue.
What he and Karsner agree on is that a candidate's personal faith is not a deciding factor when casting ballots. Instead, they look at a candidate's policy stances and qualifications.
They look at actions and behavior, too. And in light of an onslaught of sexual misconduct allegations against public officials, political candidates and
Karsner said her vote could be swayed if a candidate she otherwise supports acts in a way that contradicts her values. For her, it boils down to whether a candidate has hurt someone.
"You never really know exactly what they did, so I think it's important to look at okay, what are they doing right? What are they doing that I think is actually going to help people?" she said. "And then if there was something crazy that they do that is hurting others ... I think that would impact who I voted for."
With conflicting news reports, political agendas and the spread of fake news, Karsner and Howard said it's hard to determine when there's any truth to an allegation of misconduct.
When it comes to Trump, who has been accused by more than a dozen women of criminal or inappropriate conduct, Karsner said it's easier for her to believe some of the accusations.
"So actual physical things he may have done, I have no clue. I wasn't there," she said. "But anything that people say that he has verbally done to them ... I wouldn't believe it if he carried himself differently."
Howard, who initially supported
"Now what action goes against him now that he's President? I don't know," Howard said. "But I think it's something for voters to take with them to the ballot ... whether it's the midterms or the [presidential election]."
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Polls show women might be more likely than men to take allegations of misconduct to the voting booth. Other issues -- immigration, the economy, gun rights -- have also been analyzed through the lens of gender. But Howard and Karsner think that how a person votes is less about gender and more about life experiences.
Karsner said that as a woman who has heard countless stories of other women being sexually assaulted, it's easy for her to imagine the destruction caused by sexual misconduct and hard to not consider such allegations when it comes time to vote. But, she said, if a man personally knows a woman who has been assaulted, that man is likely to care just as much about allegations as Karsner does.
"I think it depends how you relate to the issues," she said.
Howard said for him, the economy is one of the most important issues when voting. For Karsner, it's immigration. And while the two voters prioritize those issues differently, the values that inform their priorities are similar.
"If we have a strong economy that works for all people -- and that's the key, a fair economy that does work for all people -- then it helps everybody move forward and to rise up from their situations," Howard said.
On immigration, Karsner thinks the
"I don't think that's fair," she said. "I think it's really important that we give people an opportunity."
About this series
This story is part of Pulse of the Voters, an ongoing project produced by the News and Tribune and its parent company, CNHI. Each quarter through the 2020 election, we'll publish a series of stories that tap into what's on the minds of voters across
--
___
(c)2018 The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.)
Visit The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.) at newsandtribune.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sutter County Fire Chief: ‘We’re in dire straits’
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News