Biden promised to build back better, but even as the economy recovers, workers are being left behind.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/3239908
> Despite the impressive growth in broad economic indicators like GDP and a reduction in unemployment, millions of Americans are grappling with an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Democrats' touted economic recovery, often referred to as "Bidenomics," faces scrutiny as food insecurity reaches its highest level since Biden took office, and financial hardship in 2023 is worse than in the previous three years. While the initial aid measures helped alleviate the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent failure to enact a robust social agenda and the termination of temporary aid programs have left many Americans struggling. The situation is compounded by the fact that the country's strong economic recovery has not translated into welfare for many, as financial distress increased significantly after the expiration of pandemic aid programs. This dichotomy between macroeconomic success and the reality on the ground has led to growing discontent, with recent polls reflecting low approval of Biden's economic leadership.
The brazen display of corporate power, as exemplified by Occidental Petroleum's monetary influence over critical safety legislation, illuminates the pervasive degradation of our democratic systems. It's nothing short of an affront that crucial regulations, designed to safeguard the public and born out of tragedies like East Palestine, are so easily thwarted by industry interests.
The lack of attention paid by mainstream media and politicians to these incidents is both disheartening and revealing, demonstrating the tendency to obfuscate corporate misdeeds and the adverse impacts of unfettered capitalism on public safety.
The oil company whose vinyl chloride poisoned East Palestine gave $2 million to the Senate GOP as lawmakers watered down and stalled proposed reforms.
Summary: In a significant setback for railroad safety reform, contributions from a major oil corporation may have stalled critical legislation in Congress. Occidental Petroleum, the producer of the toxic chemicals released during a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this year, donated $2 million to the Senate GOP's super PAC as bipartisan rail safety legislation was delayed. The American Chemistry Council, Occidental's lobbying arm, also donated $250,000 to the House GOP's super PAC while campaigning for amendments that would weaken the proposed bill.
The rail safety bill, initially presented as a landmark opportunity to impose new regulations on the rail industry, appears doomed six months after the East Palestine disaster. Despite comprehensive amendments proposed by Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), the legislation is still not expected to garner sufficient Republican support for Senate passage. As part of the amendments, the deadline to replace older, puncture-vulnerable tank cars with safer models was extended by three years — a move heavily promoted by chemical and rail supply industry lobbyists. The derailment in East Palestine involved flammable and carcinogenic vinyl chloride being transported in such outdated tank cars.
Biden joining + everyone else dropping out was the last hope the establishment had to kneecap Bernie, and it fucking worked
Yes! He's running as a green. And the democrats are 'concerned' and telling people don't vote third party or else you'll get trump!
But then when asked why they won't add something like STAR voting to their platform, they go quiet. They love holding us hostage and don't want to give that up! 🤣
He has definitely been positioning himself for it. The insulin moves are welcome, but the fact he let a single payer bill expire after promising to pass it leaves an all too familiar sting. But perhaps he can at least be moved on reducing prices for more pharmaceuticals and descheduling marijuana due to its legalization in CA. We'll see.
That's a great way to put it. Both parties are funded by dark money interests, one drives us to the right and the other keeps us in place. This is described as the ratchet effect
I think it’s a losing message to campaign on “everything is fine” when the vast majority of Americans are struggling.
Breaking Points covered this article and highlights that the current expectation is to simply say “we’re better than trump”. I don’t think this is very effective and believe that only an economic message can sway voters.
I think if there was a regular debate schedule it could have gotten interesting. But with the way it is now, you're absolutely correct
If the DNC didn't say there would be no primary on day 1 then we might have actually been able to see people step forward. Marianne Williamson is at least running on the issues and is physically capable of having a two hour conversation. Biden... not so much
Summary:
Democrats are becoming increasingly concerned about a possible drop in Black voter turnout for the 2024 presidential election, according to party insiders. The worries arise from a 10% decrease in Black voter turnout in the 2022 midterms compared to 2018, a more substantial decline than any other racial or ethnic group, as per a Washington Post analysis. The decline was particularly significant among younger and male Black voters in crucial states like Georgia, where Democrats aim to mobilize Black voter support for President Biden in 2024.
The Democratic party has acknowledged the need to bolster their outreach efforts to this demographic. W. Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voter Project, highlighted the need for Democrats to refocus their attention on Black male voters, who have shown lower levels of engagement. In response, Biden's team has pledged to communicate more effectively about the benefits that the Black community has reaped under Biden's administration, according to Cedric L. Richmond, a senior advisor at the Democratic National Committee.
However, Black voter advocates have identified deep-seated issues affecting Black voter turnout. Many Black men reportedly feel detached from the political process and uninspired by both parties' policies. Terrance Woodbury, CEO of HIT Strategies, a polling firm, suggests that the Democratic party's focus on countering Trump and Republican extremism doesn't motivate younger Black men as much as arguments focused on policy benefits. Concerns are growing within the party that if they fail to address these issues, disenchanted Black voters might either abstain or, potentially, be swayed by Republican messaging on certain key issues.
If Barack Obama and David Axelrod are really concerned about the climate crisis, they can fess up to their culpability — and demand change from Joe Biden.
This summer has emerged as the warmest in recorded history, following last year's record-breaking levels of global fossil fuel consumption which continue to escalate the climate crisis. Amid this alarming scenario, former President Barack Obama and his top White House strategist, David Axelrod, have taken to public platforms to decry climate inaction, despite their past contributions to the exacerbation of this crisis. The pair chose to escalate fossil fuel production during their time in power rather than prioritize climate policy, even as they enjoyed a significant influx of campaign donations from the oil and gas industry. Obama's 2018 boast about the unprecedented fossil fuel boom under his presidency, advised by Axelrod, highlights the contradiction between their past actions and their current advocacy for climate action.
While they now publicly advocate for climate policy, their refusal to acknowledge their past contributions to the climate crisis stands in stark contrast. This posturing risks rendering their recent statements as mere lip service, undermining the accountability needed for the United States to adhere to its climate commitments. This contradiction was underscored this week when President Joe Biden acknowledged climate change as an "existential threat," but refrained from declaring a climate emergency or limiting fossil fuel extraction. This strategy, initially adopted by Obama and Axelrod, could potentially be reformed if they were to openly accept their past roles in escalating the crisis and used their significant influence to advocate for stronger action from Biden and other Democratic leaders to adhere to the Paris Agreement.
Can you find for me a single instance between either of her campaigns or in any of her books where she's talked about crystals or auras?
I find it appalling that a moderator would say such a thing.
I'l even steel man your argument for a second. What's worse: talking about auras or having the ability to reduce the price of all drugs and choosing not to do so, having the ability to fix so many broken families by descheduling marijuana but choosing not to do so, or having the biggest microphone in the world to say how unconscionable it is that we do not have a universal healthcare system and choosing not to do so?
100%, but until I'm in that ballot box I'm gonna move the needle one day at a time ya know? Now's not the time to settle and too many seem to forget that
Exactly. Now is the time to change hearts and minds to demand more. By the time I'm in the ballot box I'll do what I need to but why not wear your heart on your sleeve until then? It makes no sense to not leave it all out on the field
"Vote Blue No Matter Who" has to be the most self-deprecating slogan of American politics I've ever heard of
Only one candidate has committed to:
- medicare for all
- free college tuition
- legalizing marajuanna
- eliminating the social security cap
It's all laid out in a policy page that's more detailed than even Bernie's ever was.
Meanwhile Biden's website just says 'lets finish the job'??
I'm going to assume you're acting in good faith, but I hope you realize how ridiculous that argument is. The only reason this is so is because the DNC is systematically shutting down the primary process and so elected politicians would be harming their negotiations by supporting challengers.
They for sure align more with Marianne WIlliamson whose policy page is the most detailed and progressive I've ever seen in my lifetime. Meanwhile, Biden is running on "finishing the job" and saying the economy is fine.
I'm interested in understanding why so many have picked Joe Biden. According to several top posts, Lemmy is supposedly left wing, yet the vast majority are voting for a conservative democrat over the progressive.
Does anyone here actually care about pushing against dark money, treating climate change like an existential threat, and fighting for universal health care? What's drawing you to voting for him? Looking forward to respectful debate
Matt Stoller discusses how Mr. Beast is facing challenges with his new food company from large monopolies in the US.
Not just any government, but a government captured by capitalism
I beg of you to take 5 seconds to think about what you just said when the normal slicing of a pizza is 8
As hundreds of thousands lose coverage and face major additional out-of-pocket expenses, private equity enters the spotlight.
Summary:
The health insurer Friday Health Plans, supported by private equity, was ordered by Colorado state regulators to cease operations, leaving 30,000 policyholders without health insurance. This follows the path of Bright Health, another private equity-backed insurer that had to terminate its business, affecting hundreds of thousands of policyholders. These events highlight the risks of private equity entering an already unstable health insurance market, with over a million people losing their health insurance due to the failures of these two companies. The private equity business model, centered on profit extraction rather than provision of consistent, affordable care, often results in worse patient outcomes. The collapses expose regulatory gaps, where these insurers were approved to operate without adequate capital and oversight.
Inflation rate in a vacuum doesn't mean much. We lowered the inflation rate by harming workers, and our safety net is terrible. We could have dealt with the situation by using price controls and wealth taxes that affect the top rather than the bottom.
Can we get this neolib bullshit out of here?
The economy is not doing well for a majority of Americans. The majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and are not optimistic of the future.
They dealt with inflation by raising interest rates which harms the working class. They use the stock market to justify the economy, when 80% is owned by the rich. They use job numbers to justify the economy, when more and more people need to get 2nd jobs just to be able to afford a 1 bedroom apartment.
Please stop linking to mainstream media. It's so aggravating.
The House voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution Tuesday backing Israel and condemning antisemitism, a move sparked by recent comments from Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) that ignited a fires…
Israel, a country that has been criticized by Amnesty International for its treatment of Palestinians and has provided significant financial support to both political parties in the United States, received an overwhelming affirmation by the House with a vote of 412-9-1 that it is not an apartheid state.