US Politics Mega-thread - Page 4136

Reasons To Vote For Biden In 2024 (written in February 2024)

In my opinion, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are both too old to be president. They are both cognitively declining, and they both regularly misspeak and make gaffes. I would much rather have younger nominees to choose from, but the 2024 primaries have made it clear that we will – again – have a showdown between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Barring a sudden withdrawal or death, one of these two will be elected president in November, and I think there are several good reasons to vote *for* Biden, not just *against* Trump. While the “lesser of two evils” argument should be persuasive in practice, sometimes people need more reasons to feel enthusiastic enough to get up and vote for a candidate. The Biden administration has had many accomplishments, but isn’t doing a great job of communicating them; this list is designed to outline some of those accomplishments, and explain why I’m hoping to see Biden and his administration continue their solid work for another four years.

1. The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act allocated $1.2 trillion towards building and updating major infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, public transit, internet/broadband, ports, airports, power grid reliability, and school transportation. Biden and Congressional Democrats miraculously found effective ways to negotiate with some of the usually-veto-everything-that-costs-money-or-comes-from-the-left Congressional Republicans (the House vote was 221-201; the Senate vote was 69-30). [1] [2]

2. The CHIPs And Science Act authorized $280 billion in scientific research, education, and high-tech manufacturing, such as semiconductor production, quantum computing, biotechnology, and relevant workforce training. Again, Biden and Congressional Democrats miraculously found effective ways to negotiate with some of the usually-veto-everything-that-costs-money-or-comes-from-the-left Congressional Republicans (the House vote was 243-187; the Senate vote was 64-33). [3] [4]

3. The Inflation Reduction Act capped the monthly cost of insulin (to $35) and other out-of-pocket medical expenses for millions of Americans, especially those on Medicare, lowered other drug prescription prices, and invested $783 billion in clean energy (the largest climate change investment in American history), which includes renewable energy production and development of agricultural, forest, marine, and rural regions. It is worth stating a third time, because of how unprecedented it is in our usually-gridlocked Congress: Biden and Congressional Democrats miraculously found effective ways to negotiate with some of the usually-veto-everything-that-costs-money-or-comes-from-the-left Congressional Republicans (the House vote was 220-213; the Senate vote was 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie). [5] [6]

4. Biden has strong economic numbers, both on an absolute scale and relative to Trump, in terms of unemployment, median wage growth, job creation, and the stock market. Unemployment percentages are lower under Biden (adult unemployment reached a 30+ year record low, and youth/15-24 unemployment also reached a 30+ year record low), median wage growth is higher under Biden (the percent growth reached a 20+ year record high), the number of jobs created is higher under Biden (again, the percent growth reached a 20+ year record high), and the stock market is stronger under Biden (it has reached the highest numbers ever recorded). [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

5a. Let’s talk about inflation, the price of gas, and how Biden has actually been incredibly effective at stabilizing them, after covid created supply chain issues (causing massive inflation everywhere). In our country, inflation due to covid has been consistently decreasing from a high of around 9% to nearly 3%, thanks to the aforementioned three acts (laws) – and others – under the Biden administration. It should be noted that Trump’s economic inflation numbers were very good; they were consistent at around the ideal inflation rate of 2% until covid occurred, although Trump didn’t actually do anything in particular to earn that 2% rate that he inherited from the end of the Obama administration, let alone need to recalibrate the rate after a national and global disaster (the way Biden did). As far as gas prices go, they’re almost completely back to pre-pandemic numbers, just like the inflation rate. Before the pandemic, Trump’s national gas price averages were between $2.30 and $2.90 per gallon; under Biden, the average cost of a gallon of gas has decreased from around $4.90 to $3.10. And keep in mind that the trends for both our inflation rate and our average price of gas are still projecting decreases (they aren’t just leveling off or stopping at 3% inflation or $3 per gallon). [12] [13]

5b. And one other thing about Biden effectively dealing with inflation: The effects of covid and the resulting supply chain issues weren’t just felt in the United States; there was massive global inflation. And guess which country handled it the best? “The United States has had the strongest economic recovery, measured by GDP. The U.S. economy has remained strong in 2023, with continued growth amid economic uncertainties. Most notably, this growth comes in the wake of the United States fully regaining all pre-pandemic GDP losses in 2021, as well as surpassing pre-pandemic levels. … As the world emerged from the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, most advanced economies experienced elevated inflation. U.S. inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target but is down substantially from its 2022 highs, with annual inflation declining in each of the past 12 months. Compared with advanced European economies, the United States has the lowest harmonized headline inflation rate—a comparable measure of inflation. In fact, compared with every other G7 economy, the United States has not just the lowest headline inflation but also the lowest core inflation—inflation that excludes volatile energy and food prices. Core inflation is the preferred measure of central banks.” [14]

6. Biden continues to find effective ways to reduce and forgive student debt, despite Trump’s Republican-leaning Supreme Court blocking some of it. Biden has been helping millions of Americans by forgiving over $130 billion dollars of loans and interest, allowing more and more graduates to save their money or spend it to help themselves and stimulate the economy. This may not be a long-term solution to the problem of the ever-increasing cost of college – and we do need to seriously explore long-term solutions too – but this at least provides some important and immediate relief for many young adults who would otherwise financially drown. [15]

7a. On the topic of labor, Biden is incredibly pro-union and continues to fight for workers’ rights. He updated the Davis-Bacon standards to prevent federal contractors from paying below-market wages; he raised the contractor minimum wage to $15/hour and made it easier for workers to unionize, collectively bargain, and fight for fair and equitable wages; he signed an executive order in January 2021 (as soon as he took office) that empowered federal workers by reversing Trump’s 2018 executive order that had made it easier to fire workers and harder for them to collectively bargain; he appointed officials at both the U.S. Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board who actively expand resources for educating workers on their rights; and he was the first president to ever join workers on a picket line. In addition to all of that, Biden created the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment (chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris), which teamed up with the Department of Treasury to study the positive effects of unions on the economy, and released a first-of-its-kind report to promote the long list of benefits associated with unions. [16] [17]

7b. There are many union leaders voicing their appreciation for Biden and disdain for Trump; here are two such examples: Lee Saunders and Shawn Fain. Lee Saunders, the president of AFSCME (the largest trade union of public employees in the United States), said, “President Joe Biden is the most pro-union, pro-worker president of our lifetimes – hands down, no contest. He not only understands the importance of supporting working people, but he is a trade unionist at heart. He believes in the power of collective bargaining. He believes that everyone who wants to exercise their freedom to organize should do so without interference. And he has not been shy about saying so.” Shawn Fain, the president of UAW (United Auto Workers – another large American labor union), said, “Nowhere in history has Donald Trump ever stood for the American worker. He stands against pretty much everything we stand for. … Our contract fight with the Big Three [Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis; Stellantis owns Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, etc.], our most successful contract in history, President Biden stood there with us on the picket line, unlike President Trump back in '19, when GM was on strike for 40 days and he was completely not existent and silent on the issue. I can go through a list of things, the difference in the candidates. It's very clear to us who stands with working-class people in this country and who stands against them. … In 2008-2009, the economic recession, Donald Trump blamed the workers for what was wrong with these companies. … You know, versus President Biden, who, in 2023, when a plant was going to close in Belvidere, Illinois, for Stellantis, he stood with those workers. He helped us save a community and helped bring not one plant but two plants back to life, and he stood with our members on the picket line in our fight for economic justice.” [18] [19]

8. While Biden’s weakest area is probably foreign policy – there are plenty of criticisms, and some compliments, for certain decisions his administration has made for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Afghanistan exit – he has significantly improved relations with most other countries, and has restored the United States’ image in the eyes of our allies. The rest of the world has viewed the United States extremely positively under Democratic presidents (especially under both Obama and Biden) and extremely negatively under Republican presidents (especially under both George W. Bush and Trump), and re-earning the world’s respect and trust has allowed Biden to be more persuasive and more effective than Trump could ever be. For example, while some people dislike how much assistance Biden has given to Ukraine’s defense, he has managed to avoid sending American troops, he has persuaded other countries to also contribute to Ukraine, and he is successfully helping Ukraine to cripple Russian influence in the region. Trump’s volatility, ego, and love of dictatorships would never permit him to handle any international conflict in a thoughtful, measured, and practical manner, and world leaders relentlessly – and correctly – mock Trump’s ignorance. [20] [21]

9. Biden is pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ+, and he has specific policies in place to reduce discrimination of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, which has earned him the support of the National Organization for Women (NOW) – the largest feminist organization in the country – as well as GLAAD – the world’s largest pro-LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization – and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – another major pro-LGBTQ+ organization. The policy list for supporting women is dozens of points long and is outlined on the NOW website (see [22]); it focuses on “five main issue areas: economic security, healthcare, care infrastructure, ending violence against women, and protecting and empowering women globally. Combined, this agenda targets some of the most pressing issues facing women, especially women of color, today in the U.S.” The GLAAD website has documented hundreds of pro-LGBTQ+ examples under the Biden administration, including executive orders, legislative support, speeches, and nominations. Sarah Kate Ellis, the GLAAD president and CEO, said, “President Biden included LGBTQ people in his vision for a more equal, more free, and more compassionate country. In re-upping his call for Congress to pass the Equality Act and protect transgender youth, the President is leading by example to expand freedom so no one is left behind. The call is urgent. LGBTQ Americans’ safety and dignity are under attack in state legislatures across the country, and our protections are at risk from the hostile majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. Every lawmaker and every voter must speak up for LGBTQ people, and secure protections against discrimination, so we all have a greater chance to belong, be safe, and to succeed.” The HRC website adds, “President Biden and Vice President Harris have been steadfast, fearless, and unyielding in their support of LGBTQ+ Americans. This administration has achieved landmark victories for LGBTQ+ Americans in its first term — from protecting our right to marry who we love and challenging discriminatory laws seeking to deny healthcare to transgender youth, to strengthening policies that prevent discrimination in foster care, and affirming the identities of all Americans. What’s at stake in the 2024 presidential election for LGBTQ+ people is our humanity, our right to exist, and our ability to live and raise our families in environments free from discrimination and fear. We’re ready to mobilize millions of Equality Voters to support pro-equality, pro-choice, and pro-democracy candidates like President Biden and Vice President Harris. Let’s win this.” [22] [23] [24] [25]

10. The current Supreme Court is the most conservative and lopsided it has been in decades, thanks to Trump’s three appointed justices. Electing Democratic presidents is the best way to start recalibrating the Supreme Court towards the center with more left-leaning justices, such as Biden’s appointee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. We already saw the overturning of Roe v. Wade; who knows what other progress could be undone with more Republican presidents appointing more conservative Supreme Court justices. This may also appeal to American voters who consider themselves centrist or moderate or preferring a balance of liberal and conservative leaders, given that the Supreme Court is currently heavily skewed towards favoring Republicans. [26]

There is certainly more that President Biden could do – he could find better ways to address systemic racism, voting rights, immigration reform, education, healthcare, and so on – and then I would be even happier with his presidency. Nevertheless, he’s still done an impressive job so far, and Trump’s presidency doesn’t have a list of positives that are even remotely comparable. We don’t even need to consider Trump’s negatives – although we absolutely should: undermining our elections with conspiracy theories, purposely stealing and keeping and sharing classified documents even after he no longer had clearance, handling covid terribly by peddling anti-science and anti-medicine propaganda, perpetuating racism and sexism, being found civilly liable for sexual assault and needing to pay tens of millions of dollars in damages for defaming his victim, facing 91 felonies and soon-to-be found guilty of at least some of those criminal charges, etc. Biden is an easy pick for me, and he should be an easy pick for you too; I just wish he did a better job of explaining why.

Sources:
[1] Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684
[2] Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act: 162 references and summary at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure_Investment_and_Jobs_Act
[3] CHIPs And Science Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4346
[4] CHIPs And Science Act: 87 references and summary at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIPS_and_Science_Act
[5] Inflation Reduction Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5376
[6] Inflation Reduction Act: 227 references and summary at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act
[7] Unemployment Data: https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/unemployment-rate
[8] Median Wage Growth Data: https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker
[9] Job Creation Data: https://seidmaninstitute.com/job-growth/year/
[10] Stock Market Data (Dow Jones): https://www.macrotrends.net/1319/dow-jones-100-year-historical-chart
[11] Stock Market Data (S&P 500): https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/^GSPC/
[12] U.S. Inflation Data: https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/
[13] Average U.S. Gas Prices: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=emm_epmr_pte_nus_dpg&f=m
[14] Global Inflation Comparison: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/7-reasons-the-u-s-economy-is-among-the-strongest-in-the-g7/
[15] Student Loan Forgiveness: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-debt-2024/
[16] Pro-Labor Examples: https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/8-ways-the-biden-administration-has-fought-for-working-people-by-strengthening-unions/
[17] Biden-Harris-Treasury Pro-Union Research: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1706
[18] AFSCME Union Supporting Biden: https://www.afscme.org/press/releases/2023/saunders-president-joe-biden-is-the-most-pro-union-president-of-our-lifetimes
[19] UAW Union Supporting Biden: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2024/01/27/uaw-president-shawn-fain-fox-news-neil-cavuto-david-pakman/72379756007/
[20] Global Confidence For Biden And Trump: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/06/10/americas-image-abroad-rebounds-with-transition-from-trump-to-biden/
[21] World Leaders Mocking Trump: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/04/trump-describes-trudeau-as-two-faced-over-nato-hot-mic-video
[22] NOW Policy List Supporting Women: https://now.org/the-biden-agenda-for-women/
[23] GLAAD Pro-LGBTQ+ Examples: https://glaad.org/biden-harris/
[24] GLAAD Pro-Biden Statement: https://glaad.org/releases/2023-biden-sotu/
[25] HRC Pro-Biden Statement: https://www.hrc.org/resources/biden-harris-2024-campaign
[26] Supreme Court Skewed Conservative: https://www.npr.org/2022/07/05/1109444617/the-supreme-court-conservative