Richard T
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- Mar 25, 2018
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OK Let's take a look at this. I will try to be impartial.
Economy
The Chips and Science Act. I suspect that will turn out good for defense. So a potential win for biden
Inflation Reduction Act, Like most "Acts" the title of the Act is often far from the realities. Inflation Reduction Act can’t take much credit for drop in inflation rate, experts say
From what I read much of this Act focuses on climate. it is a subsidy bill that gives government money for heat pumps, and 4.5 billion for electric stoves. It gives more generous subsidies for health care. But that is not reducing inflation, that is shifting costs to the government. https://www.consumerreports.org/app...d-new-electric-appliance-rebates-a3460144904/
The investment credits are also just subsidies to business. If it was a good investment you would not need government incentives. It might pull forward investment, meaning a business will invest more in a certain year to achieve a higher subsidy. Meanwhile someone else pays for those subsidies or more likely the government just adds debt.
Increased funding the IRS. Yes, a true Biden win. 6 dollars in revenue for every dollar spent.
Job Creation, low unemployment, and GDP statistics are just that. If Biden is responsible what was the cause? Likely it was the USA coming out of the pandemic and the past inflationary monetary policy pushing things forward. I'm open though to hear other alternatives if there is evidence of any Biden policy change that can point to him getting credit.
Cost of living
Interest rates are what has drove down inflation.
Releasing oil - Why? Oil in Storage is for defense, not for market manipulation. There are modest declines in oil prices (some say a few cents to 30 cents. However, what price will be paid to put the reserves back in? So not a win, just a giveaway that likely will have no long term impact. Can releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve lower energy prices?
Affordability connectivity program. - It is now ended A 14.2 billion program to subsidize internet access. Someone will pay that back. There is no free lunch. Affordable Connectivity Program Consumer FAQ
When you have to run your washer twice because the water level is so low the clothes are not clean, that does not lower the cost of living. So in this category the Biden administration gets a negative for spending other people's money for stuff that had very little impact.
Health care.
More subsidies, a redistribution scheme. It works though as more are insured from other people's money.If Obama and Biden were good they would lower per capita costs of health insurance. Unfortunately the USA ranks first in the highest costs for health care. 12,555 per person in 2022, The second highest is Switzerland at 8,011 and they make 10,000 more per person. How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries? - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
So more spending, more health care, more costly. The GOP offers nothing. I would give the advantage to Biden but adding more spending to what Obama already did?
Climate: More subsidies for cleanups, allegedly cleaner energy and almost a billion for Virginia rail service. Impact - who knows?
Infrastructure - more spending, are the dollars wasteful?
Crime - lower crime rates? read this, More Crime Analysis, Less Crime Politics Biden hails crime decrease, but the numbers tell a more violent story There area lots of determinants of crime including demographics. So crime is lower than during the pandemic. Did Biden do that? if so How?
Marijuana reform - relaxation probably is a negative. Pardoning some was a good idea
Diversity/Equality. no comment
Foreign Policy -
Biden was better than the GOP in supporting aid to Ukraine. If Trump weakened NATO he deserves credit for helping them think about spending more. A record number of NATO allies are spending more on defense, hitting alliance's goals
Biden has not done enough to China. I think he is seen as too weak and the enemies are restless.
Morality - Personal? I will let God judge. On policy, anyone think Biden's agenda is better?
Sorry for a lack of details. The issues are complicated and the media and even the science is a bit biased. Each area of policy requires detailed analysis and it is wrong to credit a President with any outcome unless there are specific laws of bills that can explain the outcome, and the all the side effects, like an increased budget. That is not the case with Daily Kos or myself but at least I admit the superficiality. Both Presidents are failures concerning the public debt. Neither has a plan, no major health care reforms, no social security reforms, educational reforms favor the GOP. Who gets the USA more ready for war? Trump, though he likely will get blamed if WWIII starts on his watch. Who has a better immigration plan? I think Trump. So guilty or not in a NY court, I prefer Trump.
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