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Notes -
As someone who fully supports the content of the action (although I'd go further) it is hard to describe exactly how distasteful it is that they held off for so long, even if we don't count the Obama years, on a promise that they now pretend is so morally important and meaningful. It's been an important and meaningful issue for the better part of twenty years, and so I don't think we can just pretend that your failure to act in those past opportunities is somehow forgiven. Every day that he 'knew' this moral outrage was occurring and dragged it out is a day he's personally accountable for. And which neither he nor anybody else will ever be held accountable for. This is a playbook I first noticed with Obama. Trot out an occasional win on social issues to appease the base and distract from the more important/influential economic policies you're working on.
I want to give credit where credit is due but it sure feels like very little credit is actually due when the only reason the action was even considered and implemented is a cynical ploy to stave off an electoral bloodbath in hopes of clinging to political power a bit longer. Political power that will ultimately be used to take many steps that I will find disagreeable and which will probably more than override the good that his action does here.
If politicians will only follow through on their more ambitious promises, despite having the ability to fulfill them, when they feel electorally vulnerable then the clear message is that they should constantly feel electorally vulnerable.
Can't help but feel like the ideal outcome is that Biden actually sees this proposal through (yes, I also notice how he can easily walk back much of this proposal at a later date) and the Dems still lose at least the house of representatives in the election so we hopefully get some kind of gridlock, and maybe Biden starts pulling some real rabbits out of his hat in response.
Still, glad this is at least happening. Still won't solve the grinding, looming, terrifying economic problems we're faced with.
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