Obama tells Black men it’s ‘not acceptable’ to sit out election | CNN Politics
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Former President Barack Obama on Thursday admonished Black men who he believes have not adequately supported Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, telling them it’s “not acceptable” to sit out this election and suggesting they might be reluctant to vote for Harris because she’s a woman.

He then ends up suggesting the reason they don’t like Harris is because she’s a woman -

“Because part of it makes me think – and I’m speaking to men directly – part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

  • TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    2·
    14 hours ago

    Climate and Environmental Policies

    Biden’s climate initiatives, such as the CHIPS Act and Justice40, are insufficient. They rely heavily on market-based solutions like tax credits and incentives, which fail to challenge the power of fossil fuel industries or enforce stringent regulations necessary for rapid decarbonization. The slow implementation and lack of aggressive action on carbon removal and methane reduction highlight a reluctance to confront corporate interests directly (McCarthy, 2023; Hsu, 2023).

    Social Equity Initiatives

    Executive Order 13985 focuses on equal outcomes but does not address systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. This approach lacks a transformative vision to dismantle entrenched structures of racism and economic disparity. True social equity requires redistributive policies that go beyond symbolic gestures and tackle wealth inequality, housing, and education access head-on (Gordon, 2021; Alexander, 2021).

    Healthcare and Social Programs

    Biden’s healthcare policies, including the proposed public option, fall short of the comprehensive reform needed. They maintain the dominance of private insurance companies instead of moving towards a universal single-payer system that guarantees healthcare as a human right. Similarly, student loan forgiveness initiatives are piecemeal solutions that do not address the root problem of skyrocketing education costs driven by profit motives in higher education (Klein, 2021; Friedman, 2021).

    Labor and Economic Policies

    While expanding overtime pay and consumer protections are steps in the right direction, they do not fundamentally alter the power dynamics between labor and capital. These measures fail to address wage stagnation, job insecurity, and the erosion of union power. A better approach would prioritize empowering workers through stronger labor rights, collective bargaining, and significant wealth redistribution (Bivens, 2022; Jacobs, 2022).

    Gun Control Measures

    Biden’s gun safety legislation is inadequate in addressing the systemic causes of gun violence. It focuses on moderate reforms like background checks without challenging the influence of the gun lobby or addressing deeper issues such as economic inequality and lack of community resources. A more appropriate approach would involve investments in mental health services and community-led violence prevention programs (Miller, 2021; Vanneman, 2021).

    References