The Presidential Events: October 2021

I've published these pretty reliably since June of 2018. But for some reason, October 2021 fairly escaped me.

But here's what we've got.

The Coronavirus:

Cases of the coronavirus in the United States peaked in September and declined throughout October. Hospitalizations dropped from 78,000 to 50,000. Deaths declined from 1,975 a day to 1,355. New daily cases fell from 107,000 to 71,000. Biden reopened the borders with Mexico and Canada for the fully vaccinated.

But despite the good news, the United States reached 700,000 coronavirus deaths. Coronavirus deaths in 2021 surpassed those of 2020. And vaccination rates remain stuck beneath 60%.

Immigration:

Biden restarted Trump's Remain in Mexico program, but with free vaccines for asylum seekers. This is partially beyond Biden's control. In an absurd decision, the Supreme Court ordered the President to restart the program. But Biden is responsible for acquiescing so eagerly to the command. Meanwhile he refuses to hobble the Supreme Court. Biden is the first President since Carter to not place a new justice on the Supreme Court. That's on him.

Foreign Policy:

Another area in which Biden has followed Trump's lead is foreign policy. Trump abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which had successfully limited Iran's nuclear ambitions. Trump's plan to pressure Iran into a better deal was delusional. After Trump rejected the United States' duties, Iran restarted their nuclear enrichment. The former inhabitant of the White House reinstated sanctions. After assuming the Presidency, Biden refused to reduce some of Trump's sanctions to reach a new deal. Since the United States is responsible for the fallout, it should be the first to move toward reconciliation. With negotiations stalled, Israel pressured Biden to prepare a plan B; military operations.

Also in the Middle East, the White House celebrated the first anniversary of Trump's Abraham Accords. These diplomatic deals between Israel and various Muslim nations would be commendable, except that their purpose is to allow Israel to continue to brutalize its Palestinian subjects and neighbors.

The Environment:

Another fire in California consumed 13,400 acres, while the planet lost 14% of its coral in the last decade. Rebounding economies poured more carbon into the atmosphere than nearly any other year. In response to continuing climate tragedy, the White House relaunched a website which won't halt climate change, but will tell people how it will affect their lives.

The International Energy Agency said that the plans of Cop26 will only decrease carbon emissions by 40% by 2050, far short of the amount required to prevent catastrophic global warming. The Agency says the world needs at least $4 trillion in investment in the next decade. But Democrats are thinking about planning to pass a watered down climate bill that, at best, contributes $500 billion to the issue.

Meanwhile, oil producer, Chevron, with the assistance of the US criminal justice system, imprisoned Steven Donziger. Donziger had worked on a lawsuit that forced Chevron to pay $9.5 billion for illegal dumping in Ecuador. Even though this was in 2011, Chevron refused to pay for damages. Instead it hounded Donziger. When he refused to turn over documents which would violate attorney-client privilege, Chevron had Donziger jailed for contempt.

Personal Finances and Addiction:

It's difficult to keep track of all the times journalists revealed massive tax havens for the wealthy to hide their illicit earnings. But it is easy to remember how often politicians enacted legislation due to these revelations. Never! The revelation of the Pandora papers is unlikely to impact tax policy of the United States. Among the revelations; the USA and various states, like South Dakota, contribute substantially to tax avoidance. That's not an error, it's the policy of those who use their wealth and power to corrupt the system. The same system in which 40% of US families had difficulty paying medical bills and feeding their families during the pandemic.

It doesn't seem coincidental that, in the past twelve months, the United States recorded the highest number of drug overdoses ever; ninety-six thousand. Undeterred by America's increasing addiction, the FDA authorized electronic cigarettes (vapes). Marketed by manufacturers as beneficial to adults trying to quit regular cigarettes, evidence suggests vapes are nearly as dangerous.

The GOP:

The Republican controlled Supreme Court ruled that the District of Columbia does not get a voting member of Congress. And while the Republican party almost forced the United States to crash and burn on its debts, Mitch McConnell backed down at the last minute, pushing the showdown until December 15^th.

Meanwhile, Republicans insisted Biden renominate their Republican Federal Chairman, Jerome Powell, instead of picking a more liberal option.

Spending Bills:

Progressives stood up to conservative Democrats, refusing to decouple the $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill from their $3.5 trillion social and environmental package. Then Biden demanded progressives reduce his signature bill to $2 trillion over ten years. Coal baron Joe Manchin insisted on means-testing dental, vision, and hearing care. Conservative Democrats repeatedly refused different means of funding the Build Back Better agenda. They sunk a billionaire tax. Senator Sanders warned progressives they had to pass the two bills simultaneously. If they passed the Manchin/Collins bill early, the Senate would refuse to pass the second bill.

Recent:

Unfinished Games of 2021: Part II

Relevant:

Honor Veterans, but Don't Elect Them

The Presidential Events: September 2021

Democratic Error Sacrifices the Climate for a Bipartisan Bill