THE LYING PREMISE IN TRUMP’S NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE BIDEN YEARS
Dr. Common Good
In his farewell address and final remarks, President Biden noted the long list of achievements during his presidency. Whatever your views are of his administration, or of specific policies, much was indeed accomplished. This stands in stark contrast to Trump’s bleak portrayal of decline in his inaugural address, which primarily served as a justification for his claim to be “restoring” or “saving” the country. Some of these Biden-era achievements include:
- Basically, saving the country from Trump’s disastrous neglect of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to distributing masks and vaccines (the largest mass vaccination campaign in US history), and facilitating testing for millions, the US was one of the only nations in the world to rebound economically after COVID-19 (via the American Rescue Plan Act). The US, in fact, reached a record low child poverty rate in 2021.
- In contrast to Trump, restoration of US alliances in the EU, NATO and around the globe, and rejoining the Paris Climate process.
- Marshaling allies in Europe to coordinate sustained support for Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion.
- Securing the first bipartisan infrastructure deal in a generation – something Trump promised, but never delivered.
- Creating the most jobs ever in a single term, and dropping the inflation rate from around 9% in 2022 to under 3% when he finished (though the cost of many goods has remained high).
- Making the largest investment in climate and green energy in world history (Inflation Reduction Act).
- Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs for the first time in US history (Inflation Reduction Act).
- Passing the first major gun violence prevention bill in a generation.
- Passing the first bill to ramp up production of semiconductors and computer chips here in the US (The CHIPS and Science Act).
- Protecting and preserving the largest amount of land of any President.
- Insuring a record number of Americans through the Affordable Care Act.
- Confirming almost 250 Federal judges, including the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
- Recognizing, for the first time, the Equal Rights Amendment as law of the land.
In short, and to be blunt, decline my arse. There were certainly some less-than-stellar moments during Biden’s time, but I challenge Trump and MAGA to top this list, or even come close.