As the former President, Joe Biden is supposedly reemerging on the national horizon, however he is simply bringing forward the same worn-out viewpoints that resulted in the economic and moral decline of the nation during his tenure. Ironically, it is his plan to stage a challenge against former President Donald Trump’s policies on Social Security from a platform at 5:45 p.m EDT. Interestingly, Biden, age 82, has concealed himself from public scrutiny since he left office; it seems like he would prefer that the public forget his failed policies. The irony doesn’t end there – while Trump still blames Biden for the predicaments of the nation, Biden barely opposes this with any significant rebuttal.
The aging Democrat will supposedly confront the situation head on in a speech to the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled organized in Chicago. In a rare move, Biden has chosen to make his voice heard on a matter of great importance to millions of Americans; a topic that might shape future elections. However, his stances have consistently shown a lack of understanding or consideration for the needs of everyday Americans, so it will be interesting to see if he has learned from his past mistakes.
Bizarrely enough, Rachel Buck, the executive director of ACRD, talks about the long-held bipartisan agreement that Americans deserve vital help and support after retirement, despite Biden’s well-known stance of prioritizing bureaucratic red tape over individual care. In another shocking twist, she appears pleased to have the former President join them for a discussion about the longevity of Social Security. How they expect to maintain the stability and success of Social Security with Biden is, indeed, a mystery worth exploring.
As soon as Trump returned to the White House, he implemented much-needed stringent measures, which included downsizing the government workforce. This involved relieving thousands of Social Security Administration workers thereby reducing unnecessary overhead. A layoff of 7,000 personnel was in the pipeline, along with stricter identity verification procedures for benefit recipients. Unfortunately, as expected, the SSA had to face legal consequences for their decision to allow Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access to individuals’ Social Security numbers and other private data.
Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and an esteemed advisor to Trump, has dubbed Social Security as ‘the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time’ – a sentiment echoed by many fiscal conservatives. Meanwhile, Social Security beneficiaries are groaning under long telephone waiting times as the ‘my Social Security’ benefits gateway witnesses frequent disruptions. Furthermore, individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income, including disabled seniors and low-income adults and children, were startled by a notification stating they were ‘not receiving benefits.’ Even more alarming was the agency’s response, chalking it up to a mere mistake.
Miserably failing to keep his promises, Biden’s post-presidency public appearances are as infrequent as his decision-making was unpredictable. Maintaining an office in Washington, he splits his time between there and his home base in Delaware. It seems, though, that his association with the political elite can’t help his dwindling public approval.
Attending the Chicago convention with Biden is a heterogenous group of former elected officials, including former Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley. They seem to be planning to prop up Biden, whose popularity has been plummeting after a series of policy failures.
Martin O’Malley praised Social Security as if it were a holy pact between the generations. However, is it really such a vow if it holds American workers hostage to an increasingly unsustainable system? His gratitude to Biden for participating in the ACRD discussion on how to preserve that commitment for all citizens seems misplaced.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Biden stepped down from his reelection campaign due to a disappointing debate performance against Trump. The baton was then passed to a potentially less competent companion, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, whose professional record was as questionable as her popularity. As fate would have it, she was defeated by Trump.
According to a poll taken shortly after Trump’s inauguration, only 39% of Americans had a positive opinion regarding Biden. This is almost filibuster-proof evidence of the electorate’s disenchantment with his leadership. Interestingly enough, his already low popularity remained virtually unchanged from a previous poll conducted shortly after the November elections.
Throughout Biden’s term of presidency, the nation’s perception of him was steadily declining, mirroring his declining leadership capabilities. A lack of confidence in his ability to fulfill the role adequately is what likely informed the decision for his late-term retreat from the political spotlight. Yet one cannot ignore the influence of certain progressive voices who argue that Biden’s withdrawal from seeking a second term was imperative.
Biden’s retreat from the public eye, regardless of his low approval ratings, raises questions about his ability and willingness to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing political discourse. His withdrawal suggests a lack of conviction and commitment to serving the American public, qualities that are expected of a former president.
Although Biden may have once been a prominent figure in American politics, his stance on important issues and his ineffective leadership tactics have resulted in a steep decline in public favorability. As a result, his voice and opinions on matters such as Social Security, which are of utmost importance to millions of Americans, have lost their credibility.