On a recent Friday, Joe Biden, demonstrating his striking affinity for wielding executive power, authorized an order aimed at shifting federal grants. Surprise, surprise: these grants are now set to favor developments with labor accords, wage stipulations, and analogous ‘perks’ including childcare access and internship schemes. Disguised under the garb of ‘common sense’, Biden flaunted this progressive move.
From a union training site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Biden propagated his theories, asserting how strong job norms apparently furnish increased opportunities and improved outcomes for personnel. They also purportedly promise more stability for enterprises. However, could this be another one of Biden’s self-serving attempts seeing as unions have a consequential role for Democrats in the upcoming November election?
Moving the conversation to Kamala Harris, her odds in her feud against ex-President Donald Trump seemingly hinge on the AFL-CIO and additional unions’ backing. It’s not surprising then that Biden labors to promulgate his narrative of being a union supporter, a claim he backed up by joining picketing Michigan union employees last year.
And yet, in his self-absorbed applause-seeking performance on stage, Biden conveniently yelled, ‘We buy American. And we’re making sure federal projects are American projects’. It’s a catchy slogan, but it’s not quite reflected in his administration’s trade and domestic policies so far, is it?
Further testament to Biden’s consistent push for pushing his agenda was his fresh executive directive to institute a task force to align policy strategies. This, he said, would secure better benefits for the workforce. The administration can’t seem to find a standalone win, constantly relying on the seemingly specter promise of infrastructural investments, computer chip fabrication, and renewable energy source development.
So keen is Biden on selling his bright renewable energy future that, per his administration’s count, its initiatives have provoked an impressive claim of $900 billion in private-sector outlays for renewable energy and manufacturing. However, with citizens fixated on the persisting harms from inflation that has surged alarmingly in 2022, this doesn’t exactly scream success now, does it?
Acting Labor Secretary, Julie Su, joined the rhetoric train when she proclaimed, ‘A good job is a job with security and benefits, where workers have the right to join a union’. Well, it’s pretty clear which camp she’s siding with. Was there ever any doubt that Biden and his acolytes would seize every chance to tout their pro-union stance?
And then, of course, we have Biden’s shot at the former president, a move that has become so predictably pedestrian. He dredged up a resurfaced rumor regarding Trump’s alleged derogatory comments about American war heroes. While these accusations have been vigorously denied by Trump, Biden couldn’t resist yet another cheap shot.
The succinct summation of Biden’s rhetoric at the Michigan event is rather simple: it was a carefully crafted platform to feed his and, by extension, the Democratic party’s interests. They’ve made it clear — it’s all about labor. But as we dissect the actual impact and practicality of these promises, one can’t help but wonder if this is merely a house of cards ready to tumble at the first gust of economic realism.
In the end, it seems like Biden’s executive order, viewed by some as a stratagem to pander to his beloved union friends, is merely another political ploy. Given the inflationary state and ongoing economic trials, it’s hard to predict whether this will genuinely favor workers or merely compound the problems faced by American businesses.
Interestingly, Biden’s relentless faith in labor agreements and wage standards walks a fine line between empowering workers and alienating businesses. But given the current administration’s pattern, they don’t seem overly concerned with the latter, further feeding into their pro-union, anti-business rhetoric.
It’s quite clear that Biden’s shift in focus towards wage regulations, labor agreements, and Biden-esque benefits appears to be an attempt to rally crucial support ahead of the impending November election. While this strategy may curry favor with some of his target demographic, the exclusion of positive business impacts is telling.
While Biden and Harris continue to underscore their alleged advocacy for workers’ rights and union backing, many Americans remain unconvinced. Without a concrete track record of delivering promises or addressing the country’s pressing economic hurdles, these pursuits of theirs bear the significant risk of being perceived as nothing more than vote-seeking gimmicks.
In summary, Biden’s latest executive order is more of the same — a crafted narrative designed to portray him as a savior for the working classes while conveniently pushing against business interests. And with Kamala Harris banking solely on union support, the current administration seems to be placing all its bets one-sided, potentially to their peril when election season rolls around.