Machiavellian said: Why do you believe Biden has given up on student loan forgiveness. The government appealed and it was rejected so they pushed it to the SC. What else are you expecting the government to do while this is held up in court. |
Let's imagine if FDR were president right now (somebody Biden's fans compare him to all of the time), here is what he would've done when this got tied up in the courts:
1. As soon as the bill was held up, he would've came up with half-a-dozen alternative plans that would address the legal challenges and explain them to the public.
2. He would threaten to stack the courts, expanding not only the Supreme Court but other federal circuit and appeals courts, given the Democratic Senate.
3. At the very least he would make the 0% interest rate and forbearance indefinite to induce action on the part of Congress to pass a bill.
Instead this is what Biden has done:
1. Threw his hands in the air and if the courts strike this down reinstate the status quo 60 days after they make a decision or July 2023 at the latest.
It is pretty clear that the Biden administration has given up.
Machiavellian said: As for the railroad strike, well that's a tough one. Why are you saying that The Biden administration pushed to have congress suppressed workers' rights. From what I have read, the Unions have specifically asked congress and the President to intervene into the situation. The Biden administration brokered a deal that 8 unions agreed to while 4 did not. After that things were in Congress hands, as the house passed the deal and included it seems one of the major sticking points which is paid leave and the Senate voted on it but the GOP voted it down because it require 60 vote super majority. Allowing them to strike at this particular time could nuke the country which probably would not be a good thing. As president, this is a no win situation, let the economy burn while the railroad workers are on strike or prevent them from going on strike and get congress to fix it. But with congress fixing it, means that now Congress gets to manage it and it all gets political again. I am sure that Biden could issue an executive order but that can be challenged in court while if its made into law by congress is a whole different situation. Do not forget, there are 2 sides and one person in the middle which is the President. A lot of times you will not get everything you want. I agree that 7 days paid sick leave should be on the table but I also agree that in order to get something like that passed, it would need to be done by Congress, not the President since I doubt an executive order would do the job. Either way, I am interested in see if Biden can fulfill his promise to push for 7 days paid leave as he states. Still, since something like that would need to get pass Congress, I just do not see the GOP ever getting on board as they probably believe it hurts Biden. Yeah it would be good if Joe just moved over to the GOP but thats probably not going to happen, instead, if Warnock wins in Georgia, then his vote and himself will fade for at least 2 more years. |
1. If the Railroad workers are that crucial, there needs to be more pressure on the owners of the railroads to secure laborers (the industry is hemorrhaging workers.) Eliminating the ability to strike is not a long-term solution, if -- again the railroad workers are so critical to the economy.
2. 51% of all Railroad workers who voted voted against the contract. This is because three of the four unions, that voted against, were quite large, and the margins were slim in the other 8 unions.
3. Even if the majority of railroad workers didn't vote against the contract, the unions had an agreement that if any union decided not to go forward none of them will. The rules were clear.
4. Biden did little to pressure the owners and much to pressure the workers.
5. Biden could've talked with Pelosi to keep the compromised 7-day amendment and the original bill together; he also never came out publicly for the 7 day amendment, instead promising something he obviously won't keep. Just like his other promises: student loan forgiveness, public option, etc., it is empty.
6. All workers should have the right to strike, regardless of the effects it has on the economy. The alternative is to propose slavery and exploitation. In a free country labor should be voluntary.
So yes, Biden did urge congress to remove the right to strike from an entire sector of the economy. Most railroad workers have decided that they're going to take their backpay that they were owed for not having a contract in three years, and then they're going to find new jobs, because being on call 24/7 and not having sick days while the owners of the industry over the last 15 years cut laborers in order to maximize profits isn't worth it.
Last edited by sc94597 - on 02 December 2022