The Lesser of Two Evils or Vote Third Party

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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