US Politics

Ah just saw. He's only managed to get $12bn of student loan forgiveness through, mainly for people who incurred student loan debt for colleges that closed before they completed their studies and also for disabled people.

Edit: Forbes reckon he'd have to find $1tn to pay off all student loans. That ain't gonna happen.

Oh and people in public service are part of that $12bn fund to have their loans forgiven. Still a drop in the ocean though.

Biden didn't deliver what you thought he would.

There is a vague chance the left may hold the 1.75bn deal hostage and get the above policies signed in exec orders (at the expense of progress on any punitive environmental legislation, eyecare, dental, drug pricing, corporation tax - all now gone).

This is likely the last chance for a decade.

Canada gets (mostly) $15 from January though :)

Biden didn't deliver what you thought he would.

I think you misunderstand me. I didn't say he would deliver $15pm minimum wage or forgive all student debt. I didn't have an opinion other than thinking you were wrong to say he wasn't trying to attain those things. Politics is a process that is sometimes out of your hands. Besides, afaik he never guaranteed that either of those things would be possible, just that they were his campaign pledges to pursue.

So far, his actions have shown that he is pursuing these things and delivering on them to a small extent. I don't have any opinion on whether he is doing enough or doing it the best way because I don't understand the US political system well enough. I just know that its incorrect to write him off as not delivering on campaign promises at this stage of the presidency.

All I know is that he has delivered $15ph to all federal employees, has delivered $12bn of studetn loan forgiveness and has reaffirmed his commitment to forgive debt in some circumstances. That is not the same as not delivering. Thats just politics playing out.

Unless of course you can point me to some evidence that Joe Biden lied that he wanted to see $15ph minimum wage and student debt forgiven...

Just curious, are student loans taken off a budget post somewhere or is that money 'printed' out of thin air?

Also interesting to see how "the left" goes all "he is fucking it up majorly", whereas trump supporters don't even consider that he might have done anything wrong.

Have no idea if this is correct though as I don't follow the US stuff that closely
But here in Germany it seems like progressive politics have to work immediately, despite all the problems to overcome, whereas conservative politics can do whatever and the supporters love it, just because some buzzwords get thrown around.

Useful background stats on the loans.

https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/who-owes-all-that-student-debt-and-whod-benefit-if-it-were-forgiven/

A bit of both, mainly the former. The Govt assumes the debt and will carry it forward for as long as it takes.

That is not the same as not delivering. Thats just politics playing out.

Lol, sensible people have such low standards.

Let’s take the numbers. We’re saying the Democrats initial policy goal on student debt would have cost 1 trillion, and they have achieved 12 billion of that. That’s about 1% of their original goal. If you asked someone to do something and they produced 1% of what they said they would, would you say they had delivered? If so, can you be my manager please?

Similarly, on the minimum wage there are 39 million workers in the US who earn less than $15 an hour. According to the Office of Personnel Management the federal workforce is composed of an estimated 2.1 million civilian workers. Now even if we make the assumption that all of those 2.1 million workers are earning less than $15 an hour, that’s the Democrats achieving 5% of their original stated policy goal. Again, if that looks like success to you please come and be my manager.

If this is “just politics playing out” then you can see why all of our institutions are crumbling and we are on the verge of slipping into fascism.

Oh and let’s frame that 1 trillion cost for student loan forgiveness in the context of the latest pentagon budget - my memory says 9 trillion, but happy to stand corrected - and let’s see how unreasonable it sounds.

So whats the alternative? Only policies with bibartisan support should be campaigned upon? A president shouldn't declare a goal and push for it in an attempt to make it happen?

Nothing would ever happen! No meaningful change, anyway.

It's also worth taking the time to talk about what Biden actually included in his manifesto.

He declared support for Bernie Samders's Education bill that he submitted in 2017, which includes making college free to lower income families and forgiving $10k of debt per student.

It has been in the house since then, with the democrats doing what they can to move it forwards. It's hardly akin to making a promise, not trying to deliver it and then failing to achieve it. They set a goal, spent four years trying to progress it and Joe Biden promised that as president he'd continue to support it.

First Jan 6th rioter sentenced for assault on police gets 41 months. He pleaded guilty. Another 200 or so to go.

And one rioter on the run applied for asylum in Belarus

That one is very interesting

Anyone else getting excited about Ron DeSantis?
The Economist has tipped him as the next presidential candidate of the GOP. Provided Trump's dementia accelerates significantly in the next couple of years.

The most recent news is that DeSantis wants to build up an independent militia controlled by him alone and not answerable to the federal government.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/02/politics/florida-state-guard-desantis/index.html

How are we defining the word 'excited' these days?

C'mon.... just admit you find entertainment value in US politics....

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/kanye-west-publicist-pressed-georgia-election-worker-confess-bogus-fraud-charges-2021-12-10/

Bloody hell!!!!

(But, also, disappointed in myself for being surprised)

Surreal. And grim.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/10/trump-powerpoint-mark-meadows-capitol-attack

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