With the upcoming midterms, I’m reflecting on how I am doing compared to two years ago during the last major election. The answer is I am feeling a glimmering of hope.
In October 2020, Covid had just started six months before, the country was coming up to a major presidential election, unemployment had skyrocketed and the economy contracted, the make-up of the Supreme Court was changing (with the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg), and I recall waking up every morning nervous and questioning what new destabilizing update would be coming out of the White House.
In October 2022, with a new administration, life feels more stable, and the government is getting traction in addressing the needs of the broader populace. With a stronger economy, the pressing issues now are inflation and a war in Ukraine which is disrupting global trade. Yet despite differing viewpoints, the country has managed to accomplish several large tasks in the past two years.
1. Passing Substantial Domestic Legislation with Bi-partisan Support (a few examples below)
- American Rescue Plan (2021) – Providing $1.9 trillion in funding for COVID vaccination availability as well as housing and small-business relief.
- Infrastructure Bill (2021) – Granting $1 trillion in funds to local governments to upgrade outdated roads, bridges, transit systems and more.
- Gun Safety Bill (2022) – Most sweeping gun safety bill in 30 years providing funds for background checks, mental health support, and state “red flag” bills.
- CHIPS and Science Act (2022) – Subsidizing semi-conductor production in the US and preventing technology leakage to competitor countries, like China
- Inflation Reduction Act (2022) – Instituting a minimum corporate tax of 15% and allowing Medicare negotiations on drug prices in order to fund energy security and climate change investments.
- PACT Act (2022) – Largest expansion of healthcare benefits for veterans since 1990.
2. Working Government
- The Congress is investigating the attack on the Capitol on January 6, and is presenting clear evidence on the individuals who almost prevented a peaceful transition of power
- The Justice Department is pushing to retrieve confidential documents taken from the US Archives and stored in Mar-a-Lago
- The Federal Reserve is pursuing its dual mandate shifting focus from increasing employment to decreasing inflation by increasing interest rates
3. Re-establishing International Relations
- The US continues to reduce carbon emissions and has rejoined the Paris Agreement on Climate Change signed by 196 parties/countries to address climate change.
- The US was instrumental in creating a unified coalition of 50 nations including the EU, Nordic, and NATO countries to defend Ukraine from Russia.
Although Joe Biden’s mental fitness has been mocked internationally and domestically, this administration may have accomplished more legislation and initiated more actions that will affect the next 50 years than the past five Democratic or Republican administrations. Current polls indicate two-thirds of the country believe the country is on the wrong track, which may reflect the fact that many of the above initiatives won’t have an effect for some time. Although there’s more to do, it’s healthy to consider the forward progress as well.
Major uncertainties still need to be resolved – increasing likelihood of nuclear weapons being used by Russia, rising inflation and the price of oil as winter approaches, continuing damage from climate change. But seeing the country progress rather than regress, makes me believe we can elect effective leaders to help steer the direction of the country. As I reflect on the pros/cons of different candidates, here are some principles which I will use to decide.
1. Governance vs. Grievance
It is the easy for candidates to complain about problems, but it is harder to actually do something productive. A grievance culture helps erode our trust in institutions – churches, schools, local and federal agencies. Instead of complaining about issues, e.g. a millionaire grieving the increase in price of crudites or a Yale Law graduate blaming elites for the decline of Appalachia, I’m watching for candidates who are trying to solve problems, propose alternatives and lead activities.
2. Strengthening vs. Weakening rights
Critical civil rights – voting rights, women’s rights – are being tested this year. Spurred by individuals denying the results of the 2020 election, several states are passing election interference laws that permit partisan actors to interfere with elections operations or overturn election results. With abortion rights, candidates are either hypocritical on their position, or are denying and erasing their previous restrictive stance in the wake of public outrage. I am supporting candidates that are on the side of strengthening these rights, not taking them away.
3. Engaging vs. Withdrawing
Since World War II, the US essentially created the current global world order, and has benefited from a strategic, military and trade perspective. As the country again engages on international and climate change issues, I am watching for candidates who want to address both domestic as well as global challenges.
I am skeptical of many political candidates as they may come off as inauthentic or insincere, and so understanding their positions on critical issues is one way to restore trust in those representing us in government. Instead of voting for candidates who wish to lament the breaking of the house, I’m going to support ones that are actually delivering to make the house we live in better.
A big thanks to Steve Uhl for counter-point to an earlier version of the essay’s arguments.
