How President Biden Can Turn the Economy Around With a Pen Stroke

 The American economy is driven by consumer spending. It is not driven as politicians tend to promote by the number of jobs or job growth when celebrating the rise of the stock market or the latest corporate tax cut and subsidy.  Instead, its driven by higher wages, low inflation, and people having what is called discretionary spending. That means money they have to spend on things after taking care of the necessities such as basic bills. Consumer spending then means more jobs are needed because more people are dining out, shopping, going to movies, traveling, etc.

So how do we raise consumer spending?  What can President Biden and any politician who actually means it when they say they want America to grow and have a strong economy? Or that sincerely any working Americans to have a good life and that shot at the brass ring?

Raise The Minimum Wage to $15/hour

President Biden ran on this, will he really fight hard for it or was it an empty promise? This will require Congress to pass it and since corporate donors dont want to raise wages and they own money politicians (in both parties) this will be a hard fight. They will say how raising wages will cost jobs, it will send companies overseas, its bad for unions and those making a higher wage already.  All this is a distraction and mostly not a real argument if you just stop to think about it. 

• Is raising wages from the current $7.25/hour to $15 going to send companies overseas?  Well we already have many doing just that where they can get people to work for $1/day. Not a valid argument, the answer to keeping companies in America lies elsewhere, not forcing Americans to have low wages.
• But I joined a union or went to college for better wages!  Why give these people more?  First, let me say that is a remarkably selfish attitude.  Its also counter productive because if the minimum goes up, those working more skilled or dangerous jobs can more easily get a raise themselves - it will be arising tide helping every worker.  Also businesses will be making and selling more stuff so can better afford wage increases.
• What about the deficit? This is one of the stupidest arguments!  Raising wages will likely eventually result in higher govt salaries but it will likely take a year or more.  And with higher wages for most Americans we will pay more in taxes even at the same percentage rate. That lowers the deficit.
• But I cant afford to pay that much to my workers!  Well if your workers have to get by on 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet you probably have a lousy business model. In reality, more people can afford to buy your stuff or services so your business gross income will increase.  We have seen this happen over and over again in states with higher wages.  People making twice the money they do now will be able to save and spend more, benefiting everyone.

Activate the Medicare Clause for the Duration of the Pandemic

This one President Biden can do right now, without Congress.  He wont though, unless Americans push him on it. Instead he seems to be aiming for afar more expensive COBRA subsidy.

Medicare is the most efficient health coverage in America, it pays the lowest administrative and marketing costs.  Private insurance spends a lot of money on advertising and administration, sometimes up to 50%! Thy do this because its cheaper to make complicated rules and hire people to slow down or block payments when you need it. That may be good business but its not good healthcare!  Americans pay twice the average for medical expenses as every other industrial country, in many cases we pay far more - especially for drug prices. This is because the current system is designed to charge consumers as much as possible while covering clams as little as possible and done n many ways, co-payments, premiums, deductibles, pharmacy rebates, back room deals with drug companies, out of network surprise costs, and of curse simply denying your claim as long as they can and hoping you die or give up so they don't have to pay.

Much of the problem is buried in your employee benefits so many people dont know how bad it is, especially if they dont get seriously sick. But all the money your employer spends on health care means lower wages for you.  Nothing is free after all!  COBRA is kind of an example of this, its employee health insurance without the company paying much into it.  Insurance companies love this because the money still ends in their pocket - they dont care who pays after all.

What can we do?

• The AHCA had an emergency clause in it that allows the President to give everyone Medicare during a pandemic.  This means millions of unemployed workers can get health care. Even employed workers can save money by using it instead of dealing with their insurance company.
• Will this cost taxpayers? You betcha!  I'm not going to lie to you like a typical politician or TV pundit. However what they fail to say to you is that by paying insurance companies through COBRA instead of directly paying your doctor is that the method President Biden just outlined will cost taxpayers far far more.  Doing nothing not only means more dead Americans but also costs the economy and taxpayers, lost work, lower taxes (cant pay taxes with no job right?), delays on vaccination, more time lost from work as people call in sick, on and on.
• Remember every other major country does this better and cheaper than we do, all because politicians are getting paid to let YOU and your family get sick and die to benefit insurance and drug companies.  The media is just as guilty, they make a lot of money from advertising so wont call it out.
• When this is allover we can go back to being ripped off, but right now we need this to more quickly get the economy turned around and save lives.  Who knows, you just might like single-payer instead of dealing with an insurance company!  Of course that is what certain people are terrified of.

Wear a Mask!

The final thing is not up to Congress or President Biden, but up to you.  Trump, Republicans, and conservative media all made wearing a mask a political issue.  Its not, its a moral one.  We should not need a law or regulation to force people to wear masks, people should wear them them as a symbol of patriotism and loyalty to America, or just because its the right and good thing to do.

Trump originally pushed this because he was afraid people would get scared and it would hurt the stock market.  He did not care how many people died, long as the economy was good.  Thing is if Americans all wore masks we would have cut the death toll at least in half and many people would still have their jobs.  We still would be struggling but not nearly as much. Dr. Fauchi lied and said wearing masks was not likely needed in order to prevent a run on them so health care workers would have enough. Not cool guy, not cool at all.

Mass are not comfortable, but if you refuse to wear a mask because your lazy or rather people die and lose jobs because you dont want to be mildly uncomfortable get out of the country because your not a loyal American!

An Open Letter to President Elect Joe Biden

 Congratulations on your victory. I am in Oklahoma and voted for Sen. Sanders during the Primary but you in the General. Anyone was better than a draft dodger in the WH and one who has damaged my country so much. As a veteran real patriotism and the betterment of America are important to me. Not the token pretend patriotism I see from so many politicians but the real deal, where you put country before yourself or your political party. I feel Senator McCain was the last Republican at the federal level who was truly patriotic.

So I ask you, what do you want out of your term run on policy, minimum wage of $15, some vague incremental climate change idea, and the vague sole of the country. I think your dead wrong that McConnel will work with you, he blocked President Obama and cares only for personal power and his party, America is demonstrably not important to his ideology. Even if the Dems win GA Manchin will sabotage any efforts as he is really a republican.  Given all this how will you deal with it and try to accomplish?

Do you want to be loved by your peers?  Beloved by most Americans? I dont feel in the toxic hole that is D.C. the former is really possible and the latter will require something significant. If McConnel has his way you will be remembered as a do nothing and ineffectual President who served his time, probably helped with the economic recovery from the pandemic but oversaw another devastating lossto working class Americans like under President Bush. Congress will make sure the Banks and big corporations survive and get wealthier, but millions of people will have lost their jobs, homes, health, and/or lives. History will likely not blame McConnel or Pelosi in the long term, though as she saw in losing the House we blame her now.  Ask yourself, do you really care about America more than most politicians?  I think you do but in an effort to get along will let others continue to sell the country out.

Would you like to be remembered as one of the most beloved Presidents in US history?  Here is how, despite the forces arrayed against you and the country.

Invoke the section under the AHCA that lets you give Medicare to everyone during the pandemic.  Millions of Americans lost their health care when they lost their jobs. This will save thousands of lives, probably more. BigPharma and the Congress they bought and paid for will scream but most Americans, even republicans want it. Sanders almost won on that alone (plus we admire his integrity) and it took him playing softball and some shady stuff by insurance/pharma and the politicians and media they control to kill his campaign. If COVID had happened earlier even that would not have worked, you know this if your honest with yourself.  Its popular and saves lives, the only counter is it costs too much.  But ask those who complain how much is an American life worth? And it will be great for the economy, business no longer having to deal with health care suddenly makes small business more viable and competitive, people stop using ERs for primary care, and people get healthier so are more productive.  Medical bankruptcies also go away.

Lets say your reluctant to do that and instead of being the President who saved America you would rather be known as the one who saved Obama Care. Ok, The dems under Pelosi will keep losing seats as the base replaces corporate republican lite democrats with progressives and 2022 will try to salvage it. Personally I prefer the third party option, but oh well I'm in a minority - for now. Maybe President Ro Khana or President Nina Turner will get it done and be the next FDR. 

But even if your unwilling to do what you clearly can by executive order under the law use it to force Congress to take the pandemic seriously and get something meaningful done within your first few weeks as President. With Medicare for All as the alternative, even if only for the duration of the pandemic Congress will be pressured by Insurance and Pharma to come up with anything and everything to counter your threat.  It will likely be the biggest win of your career, IF they believe you will do it.

You can put America back on its way and save millions of Americans from further suffering but only if your bold enough.  Do you want to be?

There are many things you can do and Trump has shown it and the Republicans will come across as hypocrites for complaining (that wont stop them of course).

• Government Reform through establishing a transparency cabinet or department that posts information from agencies like the FEC, FCC, FTC, FBI statistics, Labor statistics, and reports from all govt watch dogs, including Inspector Generals.  Make this information easily and readily available to every citizen, even those with weak computer skills and that will help curb the corruption that is poisoning our country.
• Infrastructure combined with climate change and a jobs program.  Lots of plans, including your outline so enough said here but this is vital not just for combatting climate change but jump starting job growth once the pandemic is dealt with.  You'll get fights on it, go to their districts and tell people how climate change related disasters cost lives and money. Also, the world is moving ahead of us on electric cars and solar tech, we ether invest or get left behind and lose jobs over it.  For any fiscal conservatives that may be left point out better jobs means higher tax revenue.

Please Mr. Biden, ignore the naysayers and fight those who want to destroy America and save this great country! If your bold enough you have a real chance to do it.