What do you make of the change of US government?
I was saddened to hear that Joe Biden has installed a Monsanto man as chief of agriculture. However, I’ve been heartened by so much else I’ve seen over the last couple of days.
For instance, did you know that in the days after being inaugurated he signed the following executive orders, all of which, I believe, are sourced in empathy and sound ethics:
~ a pause on student loan payments
~ rejoining the Paris climate accord (with a $2 trillion climate policy coming focused on reducing US emissions to net zero by 2035)
~ reversal on being able to discriminate in workplace based on gender, race or religion
~ an order that lays a foundation for a minimum wage raise
~ cancellation of the dirty oil Keystone pipeline
~ cancellation of the rights for oil companies to drill in arctic waters
~ a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for those who can’t afford rent or mortgage payments
~ cancelling the Muslim travel ban into America
~ cancelling the direction of billions of dollars towards the largely a symbolic southern border wall
~ strengthened the protections of the rights of children of undocumented immigrants
~ created a powerful ethics pledge mandate to stop self serving actions of politicians.
These measures don’t seem to be those of an evil person or administration. They are part of a larger narrative that is founded on a deeply empathetic orientation to life.
Biden’s life involves great personal hardships and tragedies. The people I’ve seen talk about his character have paid homage to his empathetic nature, the way he treats everyone from janitors to dignitaries with great respect, and his willingness to give deeply of himself. That it was his granddaughters who convinced him to run for office immediately after America witnessed a volatile white supremacist action also speaks to what he calls his intentions to heal the soul of America.
While his Covid-19-oriented measures are likely to be viewed as draconian and part of some greater control plot, I believe from his perspective he is taking drastic measures due to what he sees as an ongoing tragedy. While I believe they ought to be focusing on more nuanced approaches and much more emphasis on a primary health care revolution, I understand within their worldview why he is approaching this in the way he is.
Your thoughts?
– Cairo Rha
