Being that we are just 17 days away from a seriously critical election and this being my final chance to write a column before the big day — this is my take on what is at stake come Nov. 5.

Now whoever your candidate is at this stage (if you haven’t already voted), there are a handful of major topics that are of the utmost priority to make our lives and the lives of future generations better.

Economy. This is a no-brainer. The economy is a mess and us citizens are dealing with higher rent and house payments, higher grocery costs, higher interest rates and reduced savings. Gas prices were typically in the $4+ range the last three years though, due to the upcoming election, prices have plunged closer to $2 a gallon.

Border Crisis. Another no-brainer. No one can deny the southern border is a hot mess. Over 21 million illegals (know the difference?) are crossing over at an unprecedented rate. Many have criminal records and most of the fentanyl coming into the U.S. is trafficked into the country through official land border crossings on the southwest border by transnational criminal organizations. 

Abortion. Harris and Walz continually claim that Republicans are out to stop abortion and revoke women’s rights on reproductive rights. That’s hogwash. Trump (or the Republicans) did not elicit the end of Roe V. Wade - the supreme court did. Just as the majority of liberal judges from the supreme court adopted Roe v. Wade and maintained it through the last 30+ years, now the more conservative-leaning supreme court has simply over ruled it. They didn’t ban abortion but transferred the responsibilities of such actions to the state level where it should be. 

Wars and Foreign Policy. With the Israel and Hamas conflict and the Ukraine/Russia conflict escalating through the last few months, citizens are concerned the U.S. may be heading to WWIII. Throw in China and North Korea and things could certainly be heading that way. We need a leader who has the ability to stand up to these country’s leaders and bring peace to the regions. Do we want an experienced leader or a rookie walking into the offices of Putin, Zelenskyy, Xi Jinping or Kim Jong Un?

Safe Neighborhoods. One party is a strong proponent for police and sheriff’s departments while the other party has leaned towards defunding and dismantling police departments and  instituting anti-police legislation. What side do you want to be on should someone want to harm you or your family?

Government Spending. It’s out of control. Both candidates pledge to spend even more money towards the nation’s debt and neither Harris nor Trump has talked about reducing the nation’s heavy debt load, even though both congressional Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly said they want to rein in the debt, which currently stands at $35.7 trillion.

Education. Trump’s education platform vows to focus on parental rights, universal school choice and a fight for “patriotic education” in schools. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign has largely focused on the education investments brought by the Biden-Harris administration and building on those efforts if she is elected.

Citizens of Central Minnesota, we have an obligation to try and do what is right in electing an official based on how it will improve our lives today and in the future. Don’t make an election day decision based on your love or hate of a candidate. Think about the next four years and decide, “will I be better off with a change or status quo?”