01/18/2024
THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY. I am befuddled that Trump won in Iowa.
Former President Trump has been: 1) sued in NY, indicted in GA, FL, Manhattan & D.C., as federal & state prosecutors elsewhere have opened numerous investigations. Yes, I realize that he's innocent until proven guilty, but let's remember that 2) the Court in Denver determined, after a full trial, that there was "clear and convincing evidence" that Trump insighted an insurrection on Jan. 6.; & 3) A NY jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing one of the dozens of women who have lodged complaints against Trump, awarding her $5 million. (The 2nd trial is ongoing, but Trump has been sanctioned for his inability to behave in court).
Yes, I, too, regret that gas prices are up, but the rest of the economy is doing well. First, the US has had the best inflation-adjusted recovery from the pandemic of any major economy (& we are the biggest global economy.) Unemployment is still below 4%, not some labor participation trick: more older workers are in the workforce now than ever which would normally increase unemployment. Wages are now rising faster than prices.
GDP growth remains strong. A record number of small businesses have started under Biden. The "soft landing" looks like it's not only here, but might be better than we hoped for. The stock market had a great year, good news for the 61% of Americans who own stocks, which = growth for middle-class investors, retirees, and those planning to retire.
On Crime, the murder rate went up during the Trump administration. Last year it took one of the biggest drops in U.S. history - now on track to be 15% lower than it was in 2022, and far below 2020.
Energy production is something Biden has more control over. Even while passing one of the biggest climate change bills in U.S. history Biden is overseeing a boom of production in American natural gas and crude oil. Both are at all-time highs, & the U.S. is exporting a record amount of energy, something past presidents have all been praised for.
Finally, the budget deficit is actually down. It is $1.4 trillion lower in 2023 than in 2020. There is a long way to go to reform federal spending, but Biden can truthfully say he has the US heading in the right direction to fix our debt problem.
MORE:
Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan has provided funding for popular initiatives like repairing roads, bridges and railroads, and bringing high-speed internet to rural communities, all of which creates jobs. It also funded low-emission public transportation projects and clean water initiatives all across the country. (more jobs). Something Trump could not get done.
Medicare has started to negotiate drug prices for 10 major drugs under Biden, something Trump said he was going to get done but never did.
He created incentives for states to pass red flag laws and expanded laws that prevent people convicted of domestic abuse from gun ownership. The result - overall gun deaths were down 8-10%.
He pardoned thousands of people convicted of simple ma*****na possession, which has added $$$$ to the economy.
He appointed federal judges at a record pace and also appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman on the Supreme Court.
The CHIPS and Science Act provided funding to produce semiconductor chips for popular consumer goods, including cars and cellphones. It is creating jobs and allowing the U.S. to manage its own supply chain forhigh tech products independent of China (and Taiwan).
He also signed the Promise... Act which helped veterans who have long been suffering from the effects of inhaling toxins caused by the burning of trash on military bases.
To me, all of the above taken together make the case for Biden's presidency, and many of these points are why — despite my many criticisms of his administration — I think it's very hard to argue he has been a "terrible" president as some say.
I'm not saying Biden is the best candidate imaginable, but he's not a criminal, a misogynist or a liar who can't even identify the three branches of government. Let's all think carefully about the character of the person for whom we vote.
(Credit to Isaac Saul @ Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter for the data).
