Politics, Politics

The Latest in American Politics

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Real quick, before we get started, I am happy to announce that I have opened payed subscriptions! Don’t worry, though; I am not going to put a paywall up anytime soon. You shouldn’t have to pay to be informed. Think of payed subscriptions as more of a donation system, a way to support the continuation of this publication. I won’t require it, but will always appreciate it. And hey, if you act soon, you could be among my first payed subscribers!

Let’s begin!

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Now, more than ever, it seems that everyone has their eye on the American government. That’s no surprise, because frankly, it’s a bit of a mess. Party loyalty and political rivalries prevent bills from passing, which does not work in our favor. As I said in an earlier post, the nation’s highest court is has made some decisions crossing the line of the 1st amendment. There is Donald Trump, who - everyone should be able to agree now - made allegations about the last presidential election that have been proven false, and made attempts to “validate” his falsehood by instigating a riot at the capitol, as was proven by a congressional committee.

Politics, politics.

The following will be updates on the latest news in the American political landscape.

The Fight Against Inflation

Almost everyone now knows that the US is undergoing a period of inflation, the most intense in decades, and it is hitting us hard. It is driving up prices, but our wallets aren’t keeping pace. The majority of Americans now say that their wages are not keeping up with inflation, meaning that people are essentially bleeding money. Signs are pointing toward the United States entering a recession, and anyone who remembers 2008 knows that that is something we want to avoid (Despite this, many government officials reject the notion due to high hiring rates). Today, (Wednesday) the US Federal Reserve renewed its pledge to combat inflation, by tightening their monetary policy and increasing interest rates. Oddly enough, despite their “Fed Chair” Jerome Powell disagreeing with the claim that we are heading toward recession, his response is the same as our answers to recessions in the past.

Now, the big question: will it work? Will these policies work? That really depends on who you ask. No surprise, the government expects it to be at least somewhat successful; as do I. But there are plenty who disagree. One of the most outspoken is highly influential substacker, Robert Reich. The former US Secretary of Labor, Reich is strongly against the Fed’s inflation policies; today, (Wednesday again) he published an article on the very subject, here’s the link. Read it. See what you think. Stay informed, and I’m sure we’ll get through this.

Make Up Your Mind, Manchin

There’s a lot Democrats have to say about US senator Joe Manchin. Manchin is the roadblock to the Democratic Party’s efforts, contesting and delaying every issue. He called the Build Back Better plan - a huge accomplishment for Democrats - “dead.” And he’s from the same party!

A few weeks ago, ol’ Manchin did it again, blocking a “domestic spending package,” that, according to the New York Times, “includes climate and energy programs and tax increases.” All hopes of it passing anytime soon were gone… until today (do I need to remind you it’s Wednesday?). On July 27th, Manchin expressed his support for the package and what it roughly entails, with no explanation for the sudden change of mind. His reasoning for supporting the bill was the exact opposite that he used to oppose it: it could help combat inflation.

This is great; he’s finally cooperating with his party. Just one thing I have to say:

Make up your mind, Manchin.