The Democratic Party
is again insisting that everyone who voted in the Democratic Primary
cast a ballot for their ordained candidate, Joe Biden. This blog
already cataloged
why young voters are not disposed to vote for him, and why older
voters shouldn't. The argument of Biden's supporters is that
progressives need to vote for the better of the two candidates
remaining. They say, “Who else are you going to vote for, Donald
Trump?” and of course the answer is not
that abomination. But it seems they aren't advocating for the
better of two good candidates, but rather the lesser of two evils.
Yet, many voters may decide a politician who has committed a
disqualifying action
(vote,
decision),
or worse, a criminal
one, can't receive their vote, no matter how disgusting the
alternative.
It's no wonder the DNC
wants voters to choose the lesser of two evils. The centrist wing of
the Democratic party, its influential supporters, and aligned critics
have repeatedly defended this voting strategy, always claiming that
allowing Republicans to win by not voting, or voting third party, is
bordering on insanity or treason. Loyal progressive party members
have attempted a more persuasive tone, but containing the same
message. This includes a recent interview of Noam Chomsky by Mehdi
Hasan. Both have stood for critical progressive causes, but they,
like Bernie Sanders and other elected progressives endorsed Joe
Biden. I don't blame either of them, nor any other of the blue check
marked personalities for supporting Biden. They have positions to
protect, either as unofficial political operatives or elected
politicians. During the interview Noam Chomsky said progressives
should vote for Biden, because a second Trump term would wreck
devastation on the progressive agenda for decades, while voting for
Biden may lead to a more just future. But Chomsky (who I saw speak
at Smith College on Palestinian rights in 2006), has been advocating
this position for decades, is 91 years old, and his plan to endorse
the lesser of two evils has failed to secure a more equitable United
States.
Instead, what if
Chomsky, and those disgusted by their party's candidates had voted
for a third choice over the last fifty years. Would the political
situation in the US be as is, or somewhere better? The initial step
might be painful, but generations have refused to take them, leaving
Millennials to put the first foot forward. The DNC says if
progressives don't defeat Trump now, things will only be worse in the
future. But it's also likely that if the Democrats defeat Trump with
Biden now, Biden will be steamrolled in the 2024 election by someone
with the narcissistic, authoritarian tendencies of Trump combined
with the nihilistic political cunning of Mitch McConnell. Centrists
say that progressives will have their chance when they put pressure
on those same centrist. But if winning 43% of the vote in 2016, and
31% to the party's 41% in 2020 isn't putting pressure on the DNC
elite, I don't know what is. If Sanders' overwhelming win
in Nevada being compared to the Nazi invasion of France by
MSNBC's Chris Matthews live isn't pressuring centrists, it's
impossible to imagine when it will happen.
If Biden does manage to
win, Trump's incredible failure in combating the coronavirus will be
a significant factor, perhaps the saving grace. But it won't save
the corporate Democrats in the long term, because the problems that
the coronavirus exacerbated will still fester. And Democrats in the
House and Senate are still voting for the lesser of two evils, by
voting for policies that give billions to corporations, and crumbs to
people.
Congress initially
planned a four phase response to the early outbreak of the
Coronavirus and has passed four bills. The first, The Coronavirus
Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, worth $8.3
billion, passed on March 6th.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed on March 18th,
mandating free testing for everyone nationwide, adding $1.25 billion
in funding for food assistance, and expanded paid sick leave for
companies with fewer than 500 employees. The cost is estimated to be
$183 billion. The big bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (CARES), passed into law on March 27th.
This bill, costing nearly two trillion, passed unanimously in the
Senate, and by voice vote in the House. Officials referred to it as
Phase Three of the response. Its key provisions included $350 for
the Paycheck Protection Program, whose purpose was to support 30
million small businesses by providing loans. But the program
contained a significant loophole. Any company with less than 500
employees per location
could apply for a loan. That included massive companies like
McDonalds (who chose not to apply), but also major hotel chains
including the
Ritz-Carlton (who did).
Roughly $250 million was skimmed out by 75 publicly traded companies.
An additional $290 billion in the CARES Act was spent on providing
all Americans with a one time payment of $1,200. Except for children
who received $500. And those between 17 and 24, claimed as
dependents by their parents, who
will receive nothing!
It included $130 billion for hospitals, and both expanded
eligibility for unemployment while adding $600 per week on top of the
disbursement normal to the program. There's certainly nuggets of aid
for people hidden in the bill.
But its overwhelmed
by $500 billion in the formation of a Economic Stabilization Fund.
The fund was initially seen as a slush fund for the Trump
administration to reward political allies. The White House
negotiated, and Democratic leadership caved for fear, as a Democratic
aide admitted, “We're
terrified we'll look like obstructionists.”
The fund will be overseen by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and
a collection of non-political inspector generals. Until the
President replaced
the IG overseeing the two trillion dollar bill, and nominated one of
his
lawyers to oversee
the $500 billion fund. That was after he wrote in a signing
statement that his inspector general and Treasury Secretary would
not be able to report who the money had been delivered to
without presidential approval, in direct rejection of the intent of
the law.
As the final rotten
cherry on top, the law included a Republican tax provision, removing
complicated taxes that effected wealthy investor, and is estimated to
save
them $170 billion.
While the average American received $1,200, less than the monthly
rent or mortgage for many, corporations skimmed millions from a fund
for small businesses, big businesses received $500 billion, and the
elite were rewarded with a massive tax cut. This Phase Three bill
was drafted by the Republican Senate, while the Democratically
controlled House voted for it and left town.
While Democrats wanted to
pursue another large bill, Republican's balked. Instead, Democrats
agreed to a follow up deal which they called Phase 3.5. Though they
claimed that this would make it easier for a future deal, they
sacrificed any leverage they had. The new bill, the Paycheck
Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, cost nearly $500
billion, with another $75 billion for hospitals. It also added
another $380 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program, but failed
to close the loophole used by big businesses to raid the funds. Over
$750 million was taken by publicly traded corporations. Though even
centrists Democrats wanted additional funding for SNAP, and financial
assistance for states and cities, Republicans demurred. Since its
passage, Mitch McConnell disparaged any possible financial assistance
for states as impossible, calling it a “Blue State Bailout,” and
recommended Congress pass a bill so states can declare bankruptcy.
Meanwhile Democrats
refused to pass their own bill in the House, thereby abandoning their
duty to negotiate for things the everyday American needs, leading
some to question why they even bothered retaking it in 2018 if they
intended on being a rubber stamp for McConnell's American
deconstruction. Various progressive Democrats argued for amendments
to improve the bill. They wanted additional funding for families,
seeing the initial $1,200 as too little, and too late. They wanted
Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer to fight harder for
state relief. They wanted the federal government to cover treatment
of COVID-19, hazard pay for those working on the front lines, and a
moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, rent, and mortgage payments.
The following policies
directly relate to helping Americans during the pandemic, but there
are policies which would be obviously out of place. Climate change,
gun control, or a pathway to citizenship are critical issues, but
including them in coronavirus bills would have hindered negotiations.
But two other issues not addressed were serious, and yet connected
to the coronavirus. One, the President threatened to veto
legislation if it funded the U.S. Postal Service. The pandemic is
strangling the already struggling US Postal Service because less mail
is being sent. Republicans have repeatedly sought over the last two
decades to weaken and disrupt the service, and now see it on its last
legs. Yet the Postal Service is enshrined in the Constitution, and
is essential for rural America, where it is often the only means to
access resources and services like medication and government
communication. It even impacts voting, which leads to the other
issue. Democrats need to pass a bill enabling every voter to vote by
mail in the 2020 election. In spite of the President's claim that
voting by mail leads to massive fraudulent votes, there's no evidence
for his claim. The President even admitted he voted by mail for the
2018 midterms, but said it wouldn't be right for others to do so.
With the coronavirus still lingering, or resurgent in November, not
allowing every citizen to vote by mail will be a catastrophe and a
sham, much like the Democratic
Primary voting in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois.
The Phase 3.5 bill passed
without any key Democratic priorities, and Mitch McConnell indicated
no one should expect the Senate to pass the Phase Four bill until
deep into May, at the earliest. Republican's want to keep loading up
the Paycheck Protection Program to aid big and small businesses, but
have no interest in helping families, renters, states, grocery
workers, nurses, voters, or hungry children. And the Democratic
Party will roll over, too afraid to stand up against the scam, even
to try to claw back the $170 billion dollar tax cut for the wealthy.
The only time they play hardball is when they cancel a New York
primary so voters can't pick for any candidate they want on the
ballot.
So in the end, its not
surprising the DNC is asking voters to cast their ballot for the
lesser of two evils come November. Democrats repeatedly do so in
Congress.
Vote Green.
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