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this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
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Politics
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What has biden done for climate? I haven't heard shit lol. AFAIK walkability is still a problem, rail is basically dead, agriculture is still animal-focused, energy is still not on sane renewables (tidal/geothermal/nuclear), production/consumption is still all time high.
The thing you got to realize is that the executive branch does not have free reign to pass whatever they want. To me, the mark of a good executive is their ability to pass legislation. The Biden administration has done a fantastic job in light of such a polarized political system in the United States. Not everybody is going to want the same things that we want. In order to get things passed, sometimes we have to make compromises.
Furthermore, the Biden administrations passing of the Inflation Reduction Act specifically invested 70+ billion into public transportation (specifically rail), and far more into renewable energy production.
Biden has been able to move the meter to the left while still working with conservatives on certain issues. If you’re looking at it from a progressive standpoint, and you might not think they’re doing as much as they can. But please keep in mind that they also have to represent moderates and conservatives of the democratic branch.
Also, walkability would be state/local issue lol.
I can think of many legislation things that'd get bipartisan support. Biden has done none of them lol. You talk about compromises, but biden has not once compromised to allow some portion of leftist economics or true traditionalist social policy. where is the compromise? I haven't seen it.
You say biden has poured 70+ billion into rail, yet rail here has had literally no difference. In california we have 2 HSR projects that have been stuck for years now. Biden's presidency hasn't changed that at all. Instead we got.... more roads which are the opposite of what should be done.
In terms of renewable energy, I don't see much there either. AFAIK geothermal and tidal aren't mentioned at all. And biden's attempt to help renewables pushed moreso coal/oil making things worse off, rather than better.
The opposite, really. Biden has pushed plenty of progressive ideas which I am deeply opposed to. yet has not moved things left at all, but rather more towards the right.
I'd identify myself as conservative, yet biden has failed here too. Just today he's crying about the supreme court's decision to block the racist affirmative action policies. If he's trying to support or compromise with conservatives, his actions here do not make sense. Similarly, Biden and the other democrats in his group have recently pushed here in california to repeal racial equality in order to discriminate against whites/asians. This is boldly progressive, and not even attempting to compromise with conservatives.
I don't think so. If electric cars, roads/infrastructure, etc. are able to be "federal", then surely walkability is related to that? if all federal government can do is push harmful legislation, then surely we should just abolish it entirely?
Do you think rail gets built overnight? We won't see the effects of this funding for a decade or more. Walkability has to do with local zoning laws above all else. The federal government doesn't have the jurisdiction to force that into law, and it would be detrimental to blanket that across everywhere in the US. Walkability needs to be focused upon in cities, which is already happening.
I think you're quite biased here and you should really take a step back and look at the facts.
I'm looking at rail infrastructure projects in other countries and they move quite quickly; not "decades". If you can fund road infrastructure, you can fund walkable infastructure. I don't think I'm being unreasonable. It's not like Biden is simply incapable of working with various state governments.
And if the federal government is unable to do anything we actually need, then why does it exist at all?
I don't think I'd be able to have a productive discussion with you about this subject.
Can you share what you think biden has done that's good, and why those things are good? If you think I'm being unfair, then perhaps explain why you like Biden?
I'm not an unreasonable person, I'm just not seeing any reason to like biden whatsoever, regardless of the scope of the position he has.
I'm honestly a bit exhausted by the topic, and that's the main reason I mentioned kinda stepping back from it. But, you want to know where I'm coming from, and I respect that, so I'll give you a bit.
I'm very pleased with many of the things he has managed to do even while limited by a very partisan congress and supreme court. He's gotten infrastructure funding, the "build back better" plan that got whittled down to the inflation reduction act, and pushing the envelope for student debt forgiveness. That last thing is a great example as to why he can't do the things you're referring to, because when he tries to do things using presidential power, there are thousands of vultures ready to swoop in and sue it out of existence.
The man's not perfect, he's not even great, but damn the bar has been so low for so long it's refreshing to see someone who actually has shared goals with me in office. That's really where I'm coming from. I also feel a lot safer as a trans person in this country with him at the helm than I would with any republican and a lot of other democrats!
I see. I have to say that student loan forgiveness hasn't happened, I'm still in debt. Infrastructure hasn't seemed to change at all really. And biden has been disastrous for trans rights, which are the worst they've ever been (and he hasn't done a simple thing that'd improve the healthcare for many trans people: legalizing cyproterone acetate or even just vocally mentioning this issue).
We'll agree to disagree I guess. None of the things you listed really makes me interested in seeing another biden term.