Following a few days of election anxiety due to a delay from mail-in votes, Democratic Party nominee, Joe Biden, earned more than 270 electoral votes, officially winning the 2020 election. During a climate of social and economic turbulence, politics becomes even more essential, as a future president’s stance on issues could either be extremely beneficial or quite detrimental. This article will briefly outline Biden’s policies and plans for his presidency.
Corona Virus: One of the largest threats rampaging the globe is the coronavirus. Not only has the virus become a glaring health concern considered a pandemic, but the effects have also bled over into other sectors of the country, specifically the economy. The first step to Biden’s solution is for state governors to emphasize the importance of wearing a mask properly. He then plans to offer free nationwide testing, preventative care, and treatment for COVID-19. As accessibility to healthcare has proven to be a struggle for some families, Biden aims to remove the limits that costs impose. A distinct phase in this process will be to institute over 10 testing centers within every state. However, following this action, Biden also wishes to prepare for and prevent future pandemics by increasing research, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the public healthcare system. One aspect of this is his goal to offer health insurance to 97% of Americans by expanding Obamacare. While this is different from the universal healthcare approach taken by many other Democrats, Biden wants to create optional public health insurance, which would still be quite expensive.
Jobs & Economy: Unfortunately, as a result of the global pandemic, unemployment rates remain extremely high. While some jobs returned when the economy reopened earlier this year, the unemployment rate is still at 6.9% which is double the rate in February. Biden’s platform is built on his admiration and respect for American workers, leading to the establishment of his economic plan, “Build Better Back.” To deal with the economic crisis, Biden wants to start by addressing the coronavirus. He also wants to financially support state and local governments to ensure that government-employed workers can maintain their living. Secondly, for those who are displaced from work, he plans to expand COIVD unemployment insurance. Finally, for all the businesses that have been damaged, he aims to build a “comeback package.” In addition to the portion of his plan that approaches impending job loss, Biden’s plan also tackles manufacturing and innovation. He wants to construct a supply chain managed by small businesses to create jobs. Other proposals that Biden supports are setting the federal minimum wage at $15/hour, offering an extra $200 of Social Security per month, and overturning the Trump Administration’s tax cuts from 2017.
Immigration: While the Trump Adminstration implemented policies that divided immigrant families at the border, banned travel to certain foreign countries, and aimed to constrict immigration as a whole, Biden has stated that he will reverse these policies when he takes office. Biden initially promised that he would end Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols policy on “Day 1” (requiring asylum seekers, majority of whom are from Central America, to receive immigration trials). However, he has now stated that though he will definitely continue focusing on this issue, the solution will take longer than originally anticipated.
Climate Change: In 2018, President Donald Trump, withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, an international agreement between 195 nations to work towards reducing the global temperature increase to 1.5℃. However, Biden has claimed that he will rejoin the US to this agreement as well as working towards a clean-energy future within the nation. The internal changes are formed by his plans to invest in sustainable infrastructure and green energy with a goal of zero US carbon emissions by 2050.
Foreign Policy: In terms of foreign policy, Joe Biden has focused much of his campaign on the domestic challenges faced by the US, letting international policy take a backseat. However, Biden does prioritize strengthening some of the allyships that have deteriorated during Trump’s presidency. He especially supports bolstering NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) military and ability to address advanced threats. Additionally, he claims that he will end the “forever-wars” fought in the Middle East by withdrawing most US troops. He has also expressed hope that in strengthening American democracy through his other social and economic policies, other countries will follow suit. Consequently, he intends to hold a Global Summit for Democracy that will discuss resisting corruption, authoritarian regimes, and human rights.
In addition to the plans listed above, Biden’s campaign also has a keen concentration on promoting equality whether it be race, gender, ability, or socioeconomic status. As with any president, every plan has its shortcomings and a fair share of critics. But hopefully, the policies adopted by the 46th president will be ones that propel the nation and its citizens forward, past the current turmoil.
The Roar 