Get in losers, we’re saving America.
Every four years, we hear the same tired expression that “this is the most important election of our lifetimes.” But this time, it really is. Over these last few weeks left until November 3rd, you’ll hear an endless stream of political ads, social media disinformation, and yard signs that rival even the most ambitious Halloween decorations. Most of you are already firmly convinced of your opinions, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share my analysis of our current political predicament. Of all the blog posts and podcasts that I’ve created or helped produce, this is by far the most important one. The United States stands at one of the most critical times in its history right now. But what’s on the ballot is more than just decency and character, there are very real issues at stake that impact all Americans. Here is why I’m proud and excited to say I’m voting for Joe Biden.
Healthcare
Let’s be honest here, there are a lot of problems with the American healthcare system. Even if you don’t agree with ideas like Medicare for All (and that’s understandable), we need to make major improvements to the affordability of and access to quality healthcare. But this issue isn’t just financial for me, it’s personal. For decades, my mother struggled with the severe implications of end stage renal disease (kidney failure). She was fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant in 2000, but died in 2017 after months of surgical complications. The medical bills from her initial diagnosis, failed transplant, dialysis treatments, successful transplant, multiple unrelated surgeries, and the months of hospital care at the end of her life should have bankrupted my family a dozen times over. Even with my father’s decent health insurance, there is no way we should have been able to afford these treatments for something that wasn’t her fault.
But in a cruel irony, we were fortunate that she had kidney failure and not some other disease. Why is that? Well, kidney failure is one of the only afflictions which qualifies a person to receive Medicare at any age. Because of this, she was able to use Medicare to pay for nearly all of her expenses rather than paying for them out of pocket. This seemingly random exception for end stage renal failure is the only thing that has kept my family out of extreme poverty and homelessness.
So how would Joe Biden make things better? His plan will expand upon the successes of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and learn from its mistakes. If you prefer your current plan, you can continue to use that plan. If you don’t, you can buy into a public option that functions much like Medicare. This isn’t some massive overhaul, and it isn’t the spooky specter of “socialism.” It’s just another option that can help millions stay out of poverty and bankruptcy. His plan also lowers the Medicare age to 60, bans the process of surprise billing, and allows programs like Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.
The Trump administration, on the other hand, is actively seeking to abolish what’s left of the ACA. Just one week after the election on November 3rd, the Supreme Court will hear a major case that could end the ACA as we know it (which could end protection for pre-existing conditions). Even in the midst of a deadly pandemic, when it is known that COVID-19 can continue to cause health problems months after infection, Trump is working to end one of the most common-sense protections for the average American. Biden is working to expand these protections. This is another reason why the Supreme Court fight to select Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s seat is so important. We will all face major healthcare expenses at some point in our lives. Let’s choose a system that protects the average American, not just insurance corporations.
Coronavirus and Economics
It’s true that until COVID-19 struck, the United States’ economy overall was doing fairly well. Trump inherited a steady economic recovery from the Obama/Biden administration and didn’t directly make things worse. But this recovery has been very unequal regarding who it benefits. Sure, the stock market is near all-time highs, but what comfort is that to the millions of Americans who don’t own stock? Throughout the past few years, American manufacturing is still failing from ignored problems like automation. American farms are shutting down due in part to the trade war with China. And major corporations are reaping the benefits of trillions of dollars in government welfare from COVID-19 stimulus, while most Americans are forced to get by on a paltry one-time cash payment.
Managing the pandemic is critical to managing the economy. We cannot have a lasting and meaningful recovery until the virus is managed. This will take more than just a vaccine, it will take an administration dedicated to facts and science. Joe Biden has a plan for that too. This involves additional personal stimulus checks to all Americans, dramatically expanding the capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control, and ramping up testing capacity to track and trace the virus throughout the United States. Yes, these measures will be expensive, but if there was ever a time to spend a little extra to save American lives and rescue the economy, this is it.
But COVID-19 aside, we have a chance to create good-paying, meaningful jobs for millions of Americans by investing in clean energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. This isn’t just a one-time tax cut that disproportionately benefited the most wealthy (and allowed corporations to buy back their own stock rather than invest in their workers). This is a comprehensive series of bills that would bring global supply chains back to the United States and create incentives for the development of new energy technologies that will help America regain our once-coveted position as the global energy superpower. Biden’s plan also promotes a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave, which are both proven to boost (rather than hinder) economic success. It won’t solve all our problems or prevent the rise of other nations, but these proposals will help us remain competitive in an increasingly globalized world.
Unless you make almost half a million dollars, you’re taxes aren’t really going up in Biden’s plan.
Racial Justice/ Law & Order
George Floyd was killed only a few miles from my own home in St. Paul. The ensuing protests that followed reminded me of the clear and obvious problems with policing in America. The riots that took advantage of this movement reminded me of the work of those who sincerely want to help keep our streets safe. Tensions are obviously extremely high. There are many people on the extremes of both sides who want to further escalate the situation. While Trump praises vigilante killers like Kyle Rittenhouse (who murdered protesters in Wisconsin), Biden has strongly condemned violence across the political spectrum.
Words are one thing, but actions are another. Screaming about Law & Order or pouring secret police forces into American cities does nothing to solve the root causes of social unrest and racial injustice in this country. It may make you feel better if you live far away from these places, but those of us living in America’s major cities know that this only further inflames the situation. Joe Biden does not support “Defunding the Police,” but he does support similar common sense measures such as shifting more emphasis to mental health and crisis intervention. Real police reform happens at the local level, so it’s up to you to advocate for the best solution for your community. We must rethink the way we approach police intervention so that it creates a safer environment for both citizens and officers. This respects their commitment and sacrifice much more than blind loyalty to “blue lives.”
At the national level, Biden plans to help bridge the racial economic gap by investing in minority-owned small businesses and ensuring affordable home ownership. Policies like redlining and job discrimination were officially outlawed decades ago, but their impacts are still felt to this day. Helping to bridge this gap will be critical to ensuring the long-term stability of our communities and our country.
Foreign Policy
Of all the issues in American politics, it should be no surprise to readers of this blog that I’m most passionate about foreign policy. As the most influential nation on the planet, each of us has an ability to change the world for better or worse. The responsible use of American power and leadership abroad is fundamental to global stability. Even as other nations are rising, the absence of American leadership the past few years has been felt everywhere. We can’t just go back to the foreign policy we used to have of reckless abandon in places like the Middle East, but we also shouldn’t abandon the things that worked. Our allies, world institutions like the United Nations, and our promotion of democratic ideals abroad are part of our diplomatic solutions (not the cause of our military problems).
The Biden administration would re-commit the United States to our core values of supporting the rule of law and democratic rights abroad. We would once again back our strongest allies in Europe and Asia while pushing back against adversaries like Russia and China. Biden’s plan will work to restore good governance at home so that we are a more legitimate defender of our founding principles abroad. In addition, the United States would once again take the lead in the global fight against climate change. This would be done by encouraging (not forcing) companies to adopt cleaner energy plans and renewable energy technologies. We would also gradually reduce our own carbon emissions and lead the way in the global development of cleaner energy technology. Put simply, if the United States doesn’t lead the world in these initiatives, other nations with less-friendly intentions will.
If we don’t take the lead, they do. And who knows what they are cooking up.
The Bottom Line
Things are not great right now for most Americans, but we can turn this around. This is easily possible with better healthcare options, stronger economic protections for the average American, and police reform policies that decrease (rather than increase) tensions. If we can get our act together at home, we’ll be able to once again lead the world and serve as a model to others. But right now, the world doesn’t respect or admire us. We aren’t the shining city on a hill that serves as an example to other nations. Right now, we are ridiculed, scorned, and worst of all pitied. That doesn’t make America great, it just makes America isolated and alone. Join me in voting for Joe Biden this November (or right now if that’s an option for you!) and we might just have a fighting chance at restoring a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.