Joe Biden for President
USD College Democrats endorse Joe Biden for President
By: USD College Democrats
The country finds itself at yet another crossroads this election season. While USD Democrats endorse Joe Biden, it is imperative that we see our choice in this election not merely as a vote for a particular candidate, but a vote for the kind of country we want to live in after this election is over. The two futures America is deciding between will most definitely look very different. We must vote for a country where progressive ideals are not only prioritized, but where they are even possible. This is not a normal election, and these are not normal times. This year, character, competence, and credibility are on the ballot. We currently have a president that has no respect for the institution of government in which he holds office. Trump’s refusal to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power if he loses is a clear refusal to guarantee the future of America’s democracy.
When evaluating Trump’s first term, we see worsening political division, the current recession due to his mishandling of COVID-19, the dangerous foreign policy position of the U.S. due to his incendiary rhetoric and lack of multilateral cooperation, and his absent commitment to the crisis of climate change. Having taken over one hundred actions toward federal climate deregulation and referring to climate change as a “hoax” — Trump has effectively dismantled the political capabilities that are most necessary in the fight for the health of the environment that we call home.
When it comes to climate change, the Biden Plan will seek to reestablish crucial milestone plans that Trump has ignored, invest in greener infrastructure, and recommit to international agreements that Trump has withdrawn from. He is committed to rolling back Trump’s tax incentives that enrich corporations, and will invest in clean energy that will incentivize the development of new technology and create well-paying jobs. While Trump’s actions have prioritized short-term economic gain, Biden understands that combating climate change is a vital necessity for protecting any viable future for Americans and our economy.
We must not forget that our current president has been impeached on counts of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, along with being accused of sexual misconduct including assault by 26 different women. He has increased the national debt by 5.6 trillion dollars in his first term. He has now appointed a third of the Supreme Court after having lost the popular vote by a larger margin than any other U.S. president in history. He has implemented a “zero tolerance” immigration policy that separated thousands of children from their parents. He has issued a rule reversing nondiscrimination protections for transgender people seeking healthcare and a ban from them serving in the military. He has not created or supported any gun violence prevention policies even though mass shootings and gun deaths have hit record numbers in the U.S. over the last three years of his presidency.
It is clear that we cannot give Donald Trump another four years in this country’s highest, most respected office. The Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is exceptionally well qualified, through character and experience, to meet the daunting challenges that the nation will face over the coming four years. We trust that Biden will continue to take COVID-19 seriously with his seven-point plan, committing first and foremost to the lives of Americans, listening to science, and making public health decisions informed by public health professionals.
Biden wants to make healthcare accessible and economical for all Americans by building on the foundations of the Affordable Care Act. He plans to increase the value of tax credits to lower premiums and extend coverage, repeal exceptions that allow prescription drug companies to abuse their power, and is committed to maintaining access to contraception and abortion services. Biden’s priority is ensuring that quality healthcare is a right for all, not only the privileged.
Biden has expressed that his immigration policies will focus on legislative immigration reform that will ensure the U.S. can welcome people from every part of the world. Biden has pledged that within his first one hundred days, he will send legislation to Congress that will provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. During his term, Trump caused the longest government shutdown in U.S. history in order to get funding for the border wall, which has since cost taxpayers 30 million dollars per mile.
Biden’s plan to bolster the economy prioritizes revitalizing the middle class and tackling the racial wealth gap in this country. While he has cast himself as more of a moderate when it comes to economic policy, his pro-growth, progressive tax code is expected to raise around $4 trillion dollars in revenue over the next decade. The top one percent would bear three quarters of his proposed tax increase. By repealing tax cuts for high-income business losses, Biden also plans to expand his student debt plan that would incorporate more loan-forgiveness programs and increase the generosity of income-based repayment programs.
While Biden’s policy positions are reason enough to endorse him, we must look at the foundational values of the candidates in this election. The bottom line is that Trump has not come through on his promises to ordinary Americans. He has prioritized maintaining his political power through any means necessary. If we want a president that listens to the needs of his constituents, who values their diverse identities, and respects the democratic processes and institutions that he is a part of, we must cast our vote for Joe Biden.
A vote for Biden — and Kamala — is a vote for racial justice, a vote for members of the LGBTQ+ community, a vote for the environment, for immigrants, for hard-working Americans, for students, for all of those who have suffered from this virus, and a vote for mending the political division in this country. We urge you to ask yourselves if this country is truly “great again,” and if not, vote for Joe Biden.
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
