By Laura Haight
DWGC, President
With all the focus on negative – and inaccurate – press reports, it’s no wonder people see the economy as flailing, the country as ridden with crime, and the Biden “crime family” failing to do anything constructive while they’re raking in money from shady sources (does that sound like another president we might remember?).
I want to set the record straight and give us all some things to talk about when our friends cast shade on Biden while they long for some young thus-far hidden gem to emerge.
– Let’s talk about forward thinking. Biden’s environmental record is the best of any president in history. It’s not perfect, but his effort at governing with at least a modicum of bipartisan support means, of necessity, there must be compromises. But the victories far outweigh them. The infrastructure bill in 2021 included $300 billion for green investment. The Inflation Reduction Act included another $400 billion for renewable energy subsidies. At the same time, he’s pushing sustainable energy solutions, electric car production, funding to build a massive national network of electric charging stations. These changes are tied to job creation, business development and future-proofing our country and our economy. And they are looking forward in a way no president has since Jimmy Carter.
– How about diversity? Biden has assembled the most diverse Cabinet in the history of the country. The first openly gay cabinet secretary, the first Native American cabinet secretary, the first transgender assistant secretary. It’s a cabinet reflecting the diversity of the US in age, gender, race, and ethnic background. And that doesn’t even include the first a) woman and b) multi-racial vice president in history.
– What about the economy. The economy is not plunging into recession, as Republicans would have us believe. We have more jobs, lower unemployment, higher wages and, for the last three months wage growth has outpaced inflation. Yes, we have struggled with inflation, but it is down from 9.5 percent to 3.7 percent in September, and is expected to show a drop to 2.4 percent in October (very nearly at the level the fed has been waiting for). Wages have increased in unprecedented levels during Biden’s presidency: Up 8.9 percent and 5.32 percent, in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The economy is improving. Gas prices are still high – a combination of supply/demand issues, COVID recovery, and OPEC cutbacks.
– Healthcare. My mom suffered from AFIB. I personally know at least 10 people who have this condition so it is not uncommon. The medications for this cost several hundred dollars a month and up to $1500 per month when she was in the ”doughnut hole.” Mom is gone now, but allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for seniors and capping the annual out-of-pocket expense at $2K, is a huge help. The lowering of the price of insulin to $35 for everyone is a big victory for families who found themselves having to decide between taking medication and putting food on the table.
– Technology. Everything in our lives runs on and relies upon computer chips. Your car has between 1300 and 1500 in them. An electric car has 3000! Utilities, power, entertainment, TV, phones, door bells are just a few of the millions of things that surround us every day that rely on computer chips. Until now, 75 percent of all semiconductor chips have been produced in East Asia (50 percent in Taiwan). The US produces about 12 percent of chips, despite being the world’s largest purchaser. The Chips Act changes that dynamic by investing $50 billion in direct funding, loans and loan guarantees in semiconductor research and manufacturing in the US.
– Families. We did pass the child tax credit and proved its effectiveness. But despite the fact that 50 percent of children were lifted out of poverty in the one year it existed, the Republican House voted against continuing it in 2023. Their action essentially said it’s OK to plunge those kids back into poverty when we have the ability to prevent it. If this is your issue, it’s not Biden you need to get rid of; it’s your Republican House member.
Of course, not everything we wanted was accomplished. Some things – like forgiving student loan debt and a path to citizenship for DACA beneficiaries – were shut down by the Supreme Court. Others failed to get through the evenly divided Senate when two Democratic senators voted against them.
What did get passed – especially given the political climate – is as impressive a 2-year record as any president in my memory – maybe modern history – can boast.
As a practical matter, we know Biden will be on the ticket in 2024.The fact that we have to convince Democrats to get behind an extremely successful incumbent’s re-election campaign is crazy.
If we stop shooting ourselves in the foot, sowing doubt among our friends, family and networks. Stop debating whether we should vote for the old dude, some no-labels alternative, or maybe just stay home, we will have plenty of time during the second Biden administration to both save Democracy and seek out and develop our best and brightest to run in 2028.
We aren’t stuck with Biden. Stop feeding a Republican narrative!