Just in time for the holidays, the White House has released a helpful guide.
During Thanksgiving, a grateful nation usually pauses to count its blessings.
Rumors of the impending death of democracy seem to have been greatly exaggerated. The American experiment in liberty survived another contentious election relatively intact.
According to President Biden, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has no immediate plans to invade Taiwan, which is excellent news for the world and globalized supply lines dependent on peace and petroleum.
The Biden Administration has been engaged in a flurry of diplomacy aimed at improving strained relations with Saudi Arabia, which should help keep Iran’s rogue government in check.
After promising on the campaign trail to make Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a, “pariah”, President Biden has been furiously back-peddling ever since in an effort to bring down U.S. gas prices.
Between shelving negotiations with Iran to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action two weeks ago — which the Saudis always hated — and issuing a pardon for the Crown Prince in the brutal 2017 murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last week — surely the Saudi Royal Family will begin to thaw soon.
When they do, it is to be hoped that OPEC will finally increase oil output in order to bring down U.S. fuel costs. That is unless French President Emmanuel Macron was correct when he warned Biden in June that OPEC was already at maximum capacity and wouldn’t be able to increase output for at least another year.
While the price consumers are paying at the pump has gone down, diesel fuel — required to ship everything consumers buy from A to Z — remains stubbornly high.
A glut of globalization gave the world a 10,000-mile supply line completely dependent on petroleum. The manufacturers of electric cars are nowhere near close to producing an electric 18-wheeler, even if the majority of electricity running through the U.S. power grid weren’t still produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and petroleum.
Over-globalization has decimated the American manufacturing sector so thoroughly, the U.S. couldn’t produce goods closer to home — which would cost less to ship — even if it wanted to.
So for the time being, the nation is stuck with a Thanksgiving that costs at least 20% more than it did two years ago.
“President Biden’s Top Accomplishments for when chatting with your Uncle at Thanksgiving,” is a helpful guide released by the White House just in time for the holiday.
President Biden’s Top Accomplishments for when Chatting with your Uncle at Thanksgiving:
TACKLING INFLATION & LOWERING COSTS
-Gas prices are down by $1.35/gallon since June and inflation is moderating.
-Unsnarling supply chains to lower the cost of goods.
-Saving Americans with hearing loss up to $3,000 on hearing aids.
-Tackling junk fees that cost Americans billions, like surprise overdraft charges.
TOOK ON BIG PHARMA — AND WON — lowering prescription drug and health care costs.
-Capping annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 for seniors on Medicare
-Capping insulin co-pays at $35 per prescription, for seniors on Medicare
-Lowering health insurance premiums by $800 annually for Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Worked with Republicans to REBUILD America’s infrastructure
-Rebuilding roads and bridges
-Investing in passenger rail and public transit
-Expanding affordable, high-speed internet for all Americans
-Removing all lead pipes, ensures clean drinking water in all communities
Worked with Republicans to make more in America, by passing the CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT
-Investing in semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced, cutting-edge technologies here in America
-Creating good-paying jobs in manufacturing
Brought together Republicans and Democrats to pass the FIRST MEANINGFUL GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION in nearly 30 years
-Removing firearms from dangerous individuals
-Expanding mental health services in schools
-Supporting school safety and narrows the ‘boyfriend loophole’ to keep guns out of the hands of convicted dating partners
Despite global challenges, WE’RE MAKING PROGRESS
-10 million jobs created, unemployment near record lows
-Unemployment near record lows, including for Black and Hispanic Americans
-More small businesses launching than ever before
-Rallied the world in defense of Ukraine, in the face of Putin’s aggression
-And NO taxes on people making above $400k — he kept his promise
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are EXTREME
Proposing a national ban on abortion
Planning to Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block
Trying to raise costs on Americans by repealing the Inflation Reduction Act
There you have it.
While the White House probably meant, “And NO taxes on people making *below* $400k,” rather than, “And NO taxes on people making above $400k,” that harmless, meaningless little typo will no doubt be corrected in plenty of time for Turkey Day.
And if all these excellent Democratic Party talking points fail, or should anyone point out any glaring misrepresentations contained therein, there’s always Donald Trump.
(contributing writer, Brooke Bell)