Kamala Harris and Tim Walz face a challenging but possible path to electoral victory in the upcoming US presidential election. Donald Trump polarizes and appeals to an increasingly extreme right-wing base. Harris and Walz instead direct their focus to the rampant inequality in the country. This issue affects millions of Americans. They find it difficult to afford food, housing and healthcare.
Inequality, racism and everyday struggle
Flagrant class divisions characterize the United States. A fight to favor the richest and for racism characterizes Trump's campaign. A comedian who is a companion of Trump clarified Monday, October 28, 2024. The comedian joked about Puerto Rico as an "island of garbage." Trump tried to distance himself from the joke. However, the joke is in line with Trump's over-the-top comments at the far-right and Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. There were riots and a car ran over anti-racist protesters. A woman died. Trump could not take a stand between the racist rioters and the colored and/or anti-Zionist victims. Trump said there were good people on both sides.
Difficult to afford the basics
Many citizens struggle to afford basic needs such as food, housing and healthcare. Harris is determined to address these financial challenges. Her party, the Democrats, wants to see progressive reforms such as tax breaks for families with children and background checks on gun purchases. Trump is trying to scare voters with Harris' multi-ethnic background. This does not seem to diminish Harris' popularity. But there is concern among some voters that Harris and Walz are not going far enough to truly reduce economic inequality.
Trump triangulates and tries to play friend of the people
Even Trump talks about lowering food prices, which have become too high because grocers took advantage of inflation too much. But Harris focuses on cutting taxes and making things easier for the working and middle class. The fact that Trump instead speaks warmly of reduced taxes for the very richest billionaires still seems to speak volumes. In a voter turnout Trump also quickly lost interest in food prices which would have been the focus of the speech. Harris has managed to create a lead in several key swing states. But Trump appears to need the support of fewer swing states than Harris to win. The Democrats' message of economic justice still seems to have struck a chord with many voters. At the same time, the Democrats' candidate is not purely economically leftist either. Even she has conservative and neoliberal element. But Harris has the support of succeeding President Joe Biden as the presidential candidate. Biden is not perfect but one of America's most pro-worker presidents in living memory. But Trump's warning to the American people is perhaps the clearest. Trump threatened Americans that if the Democrats win, there could be free healthcare for everyone.
Rights and democracy
Harris' fight for abortion rights and human rights is also a central part of her campaign. Harris has been clear about his support for restoring abortion rights and defending democratic institutions. This has made her popular among progressive and rights-oriented voters. Tim Walz, as her running mate, contributes with another dimension. Walz represents one confident, progressive masculinity. This stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump's and JD Vance's often criticized views on gender roles and rights. This difference could prove to be a strong asset for Harris. Many voters see an urgent need for a more equal and rights-based social development.
Project 2025 a major threat to democracy
Although the Democrats are not perfect, Donald Trump and his "Project 2025" pose a serious threat to democracy, the working class and basic freedoms. Project 2025 was developed by the Heritage Foundation. It outlines what Trump would do in his first 180 days as president. Project 2025 involves drastic measures that could fundamentally change the US political and social landscape.
The plan wants to severely curtail workers' rights. It wants to abolish overtime laws, the minimum wage and unions in the public sector, as well as reintroduce child labor in some sectors. It also advocates a very restrictive immigration policy with mass deportations and continued wall building against Mexico. This would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis at the border.
Project 2025 also threatens civil rights by proposing bans on gender-affirming care. It wants to ban erotic films and images for fear of those featuring shemales. Project 2025 wants to withdraw rights for LGBTQiX people and ban the teaching of important historical topics such as the history of women and African Americans. On the environment, Trump plans to expand oil and gas extraction, eliminate support for clean energy and reduce protected natural areas, which would worsen the climate crisis.
The plan contains proposals to curtail the ideas of separation of powers that have been the basis of the principles of democracy since the 1700th century. Project 2025 wants to abolish or greatly weaken independent agencies and courts that stand in the way of Trump's agenda. This includes firing impartial officials and replacing them with loyal supporters. This would transform the US administration into a tool for Trump's personal exercise of power.
In conclusion, Project 2025 is not just a political plan, but a grave danger to the working class, individual liberties, and democracy in the United States. At a time of political frustration, understanding the scale of this threat is critical.
Challenges and criticism
Despite their focus on economic justice and rights, Harris and Walz face criticism from different quarters. A significant challenge it is unreserved support for Israel that the Biden administration has provided during the conflict with Hamas. The support has sparked strong reactions, especially among young progressive voters. Demonstrations have erupted against Harris's campaign.
Contrast with Trump and Vance
Donald Trump's campaign has underlined his desire to strengthen the executive branch at the expense of democracy and the principle of non-violence. Anxiety and fear are high among many voters who value democratic institutions and the rule of law. Trump's statements that conservative Christians would never again have to vote if he is elected are raising fears. Should Trump become the bane of what little democracy the US has after all? Trump wants too depart from basic democratic principles of not using the military against their own population to maintain law and order. At the same time, Harris and Walz have exploited Trump and Vance's perceived “weirdness” as a way to disarm their rhetoric. Despite this, they must balance this strategy in order to not alienate voters who value personal freedom over responsibility, especially within the LGBTQiX community and other progressive groups.
Difference between Trump and Harris on fiscal policy and green transition
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have fundamentally different views on fiscal policy. This difference is greatest in relation to the green transition and modernizing the economy. Harris and the Democrats advocate an expansionary fiscal policy. Democrats want to see significant investment in green technology and sustainable energy. Harris sees climate change as an existential risk. The Democrats want to reshape the US economy to make it both more sustainable and competitive. The global is increasingly moving towards renewable energy. Harris has been a strong advocate for using government funds to support research, innovation and infrastructure that can accelerate the transition to a green economy.
Trump, on the other hand, has made it a priority to reduce government spending and regulations, especially those related to the environment and climate. During his time as president, Trump rolled back many environmental regulations and cut funding for climate-related projects. Trump has emphasized traditional energy such as oil and coal as important to America's economic strength. Trump has been skeptical about using state resources to support a green transition. Trump's economic policies are more focused on maintaining the status quo rather than pushing for a transformation to a green economy.
Racism
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have different views on racism. Trump has been criticized for remarks that allegedly inflamed racial tensions. After the events in Charlottesville in 2017, Trump said there were "very fine people on both sides." His rhetoric around immigrants has often reinforced negative stereotypes.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris, herself of multi-ethnic background, has worked to fight systematic racism. Harris has supported police reform and made clear stands for Black Lives Matter. Harris has also focused on protecting the rights of minorities and fighting hate crimes.
Refugee policy
The Trump administration introduced restrictive measures to reduce immigration. He greatly missed the refugee quota and introduced a "Muslim Ban". Trump's focus on building a wall against Mexico symbolized his hard line against immigration.
Harris has criticized these measures as inhumane and advocated for a more compassionate immigration policy. Harris defends a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. However, the Biden-Harris administration continued some parts of the wall construction with already allocated funds, despite officially halting further construction.
In summary, Harris has a more inclusive and rights-focused view. Trump advocates a more restrictive and nationalist approach.
Difference in war risk
The Democrats are more in favor of maintaining the United States' role as world police and as strong guarantor of NATO's strength. At the same time, the Democrats seem more aggressive towards China, Russia and the Middle East. In any case, as far as Russia and perhaps China are concerned, Trump may be ready to let the US back down to give the victory to Putin. While Trump did not start any wars, he often insulted several world leaders and people were very worried about major international wars under him. Can you have such an emotionally unstable person as Trump as the supreme commander of the military industrial force of the United States?
Final thoughts
Harris and Walz have a strong chance of winning the election by focusing on economic equality, rights and democracy. The Democrats' road to victory still has many challenges. The glaring inequality and the need for strong leadership on rights issues can be critical, but they must also navigate the complex political landscape that includes criticism of US foreign policy and concerns about democratic institutions.
In a society where many are deeply dissatisfied with the status quo, Harris and Walz must show that they are not just a better option. The Democrats really need to deliver the change away from predatory austerity that so many are longing for.
An article on Responsible Statecraft (right-left independent site for "anti-imperialist" experts on foreign policy, recommended) Trump's last presidency was an example of emotional lability precisely because it all depended on Trump personally. If he wins again, it will be more collective, and his team will be made up of, if not isolationists, then at least people who want to downplay outward aggressiveness (and perhaps adapt to America's diminished resources). The consistent slogan at the Republican nomination meeting was "no more wars". See https://responsiblestatecraft.org/jd-vance-ukraine/.
It might also be worth pointing out that the Harris/Walz egalitarian rhetoric might be because the unions finally, finally, seem strong and have won some important blows in the past year. Look more at https://www.bu.edu/articles/2023/are-unions-surging-back/. Nothing happens if you trust politicians, you have to act yourself. But if you do that, the politicians must go along. Probably also applies in Sweden.
The Biden administration and the labor movement in the United States have had a strong and mutually reinforcing relationship during the Biden presidency. This relationship has its roots in Biden's first expansionary budget and economic policies, which aimed to promote economic recovery and strengthen the working class after the pandemic.
Biden's Economic Measures
Biden began his term by pushing through the American Rescue Plan, a massive nearly $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at easing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This package included direct assistance to households, expanded unemployment insurance, and significant funding to support state and local governments. Through this package, Biden strengthened the economic security of millions of workers and laid the foundation for a recovery that benefited the working class.
Another important part of Biden's agenda has been to strengthen the position of unions. Biden has openly supported the right of workers to organize and has spoken out in favor of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, which has long been a demand of unions and progressive movements. He has also nominated pro-union figures to key positions, such as Jennifer Abruzzo to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which has worked to strengthen protections for workers who try to organize.
The strengthening of the Labor Movement
Under the Biden administration, the labor movement has also grown in strength. Several important strikes and workplace actions have taken place, for example by unions representing workers in the automotive industry and healthcare. These actions have led to improved working conditions and higher wages for many workers. Biden has consistently expressed his support for these movements and has emphasized that a strong labor movement is critical to a fair economy.
Biden's policies have helped strengthen the position of unions by protecting workers' rights and promoting economic justice. By giving workers more say and safety in the workplace, Biden has also strengthened his own political base, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between his administration and the labor movement.
Democrats vs. Republicans
It is clear that the Democrats, under Biden's leadership, have positioned themselves as a party that supports workers' rights more than the Republicans. While Democrats have pushed policies that directly benefit the working class, such as support for unions and increases in the minimum wage, Republicans, especially under Trump, have often supported laws and measures that weaken unions and favor employers over workers.
Overall, the Biden administration's economic policies and support for the labor movement have not only strengthened the position of workers, but also helped make the Democrats the party more consistently on the side of workers than the Republicans.
Very interesting info. Hope American voters also get access to diverse info and vote for a human-worthy USA.
As a non-American, you can hesitate... Before the last election, there was a joker who said that if Biden wins, it's good for the United States, but if Trump wins, it's good for the rest of the world. Given the general warmongering of Democrats, I'm inclined to think that might be true.
With the caveat that there doesn't seem to be any difference between the parties when it comes to providing the military with a lot of deadly toys. As Keynes sadly pointed out in 1940: the bourgeoisie seems unable to imagine any form of government investment other than arms. See e.g. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/biden-war-strategy/
Unfortunately, since time immemorial, power has rather made a living from robbery (more generally known as war) than from starting and running public utility companies and industries.
Industrial capitalism traces its roots to the New Age when the kingdoms of Europe wanted the best industries in their countries not to produce wealth but to defeat the neighboring states in war.
With the reservation that today they would probably rather have cold wars than hot ones, because hot ones risk annihilating them themselves. Cold wars, on the other hand, are bad, because then you can sell a lot of weapons without much risk. And if there's one thing venture capitalists hate, it's risk.
The problem, of course, is that cold wars are based on brinkmanship. You constantly run the risk of stepping on the wrong foot and declaring hot. It is only by chance that the world survived; if Colonel Stanislav Petrov had believed the Soviet missile warning system's warning in 1983, he would have been forced to press the fire button. But he didn't. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Soviet_nuclear_false_alarm_incident.
Yes, my posts are automatically translated into English.
Time is important. The election will be an important dividing line for the future of the United States. There is similarity between Trump and Putin. Both seek an empire. Both are based on an elite and that the people as means of construction.
Attitude is aggressive and does not shy away from the rhetoric of lies. Lenin said the lie sanctifies the means.
Society is an interpersonal organism Society's harmony presupposes peace and the path of prosperity for people's lives. Leadership. which creates the conditions.
The economic system assumes that money remains a means and not an end for a monetary elite.
The opposite happens in many places in riots, gang crime and corruption in society's path to disintegration. Blood is spilled
Who runs the world is a question. War prevails where civilians are sacrificed.
Oskar your article should be known. Our media are smooth to inform!
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