By Malachi Baggett

People want change. 

The front-runners for this election are a billionaire reality TV star, a woman, a socialist, and a neurosurgeon.

Now obviously these candidates are not merely defined by those characteristics, but the point remains that people want change in their government. The problem is that the GOP’s change will not stand up to the Democrat’s change next November. The GOP stands on change from Obama policies and the last eight years. 

The DNC stands for change of individual human rights. When it is time for the general election and the GOP front-runner goes against Hillary Clinton, he or she will be taking a boring message of fiscal conservatism and border security against the idea that everyone can be equal and do what they want, and the government will give us money to live out that dream. The fact is, the youth of today (the major demographic that decides political elections for the next 25-40 years) do not think that Obama has done a bad job. Sure, there are the Alex Keatons out there reading the Wall Street Journal with big dreams of capitalism (Yes, of course, I am a fan of ’80s sitcoms. That was the golden age of television. The ’90s was a close second), but youth today are too afraid of offending people and being offended to go against a candidate that preaches equality.

The Republican candidates’ biggest problem is the fact that they do not take a stand on issues. They remain vague on everything and encourage you to go to their website.

The answer to every question is “I have a plan.” The problem is, they never talk about that plan. From a campaign standpoint, it is so that your opponent cannot pick it apart and put their own spin on it in the media. However, if they are confident that their plan will work, then they should not be so afraid to share it.

Is Clinton any better? Not really.  She also will not talk about her plan.  But her plan involves free health care, equality, etc. Her response can make her sound like Oprah Winfrey, “I have a plan, and you get free stuff and you get free stuff,” which is a lot more appealing than making cuts.

If a Republican candidate would just stand up for something instead of beating around the bush, would connect with people, and make sure that people understand the problem and how they as a candidate see it, then they would have a chance against Clinton. 

Malachi Baggett is a senior political science major at the University of Mississippi. Contact him at jmbagget@go.olemiss.edu.