President Biden Has Done A Great Job.

Emilio B.

The current state of the world is in peril-- people are dying from Covid-19, social issues, climate change, and more. Our times are unprecedented, and in the midst of it all: the United States 2020 Election. Anxiously waiting for five days after November 3, Joe Biden was named President-Elect, with Kamala Harris as Vice-President-Elect. It has been around 100 days since he has been elected and his actions have been crucial in aiding the United States and the world. Joe Biden has done a phenomenal job since the beginning. 

President Joe Biden took office in the middle of a pandemic, while his successor refused to listen to the science. Meanwhile, President Biden has rejoined the World Health Organization (WHO) and had an ambitious goal to have every American eligible for a vaccine by April 19 and it has succeeded. Plans to go back to normal for the entire country are set for July 4th. Additionally, he has signed several executive orders strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. On January 27, just 7 days after his inauguration, Biden ordered 200 million doses from Pfizer and Moderna. On February 11, he bought 200 million doses from Pfizer and Moderna again. On March 10, Biden ordered 100 million doses from Johnson and Johnson, just to name a few. The vaccines ordered are deemed to be some of the safest in the world, with some of the highest efficacies. Along with vaccinations, President Biden has ordered mandatory mask-wearing on all federal property. Ever since Biden’s inauguration and his executive orders, cases have been on a steady decline. Biden is donating $4 billion to COVAX, an organization set by the WHO that plans to inoculate developing countries due to their lack of procured Covid-19 vaccines. 

With the rise in Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests all around the world, and the recent conviction of George Floyd’s killer, Derek Chavin, Biden has pledged to act on police reform. The simple action of supporting social justice movements, and all the more acting on it has supported minorities with the police and criminal justice system. Biden has also rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day, cut several oil pipelines, converting fossil fuel energy into renewable energy, and is cutting all emissions in half by 2030. Biden has also made workspaces safer for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, by protecting them from discrimination. With the economy hurt because of the pandemic, Biden has provided stimulus checks for Americans containing $1,400 and support for children. 

Some believe that Biden has his country in bad relations with the east. While he has threatened Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran/Syria, it is because of the lack of humanity in their actions. Russia and North Korea remain dictatorship-like countries, while China continues to hold Uyghurs in their so-called “reeducation camps.” Furthermore, Biden even called back several airstrikes on the middle east last-minute, after finding out that citizens were still being evacuated. Biden has made sure that no civilians were injured. 

In summary, all of Biden’s actions, whether executive or legislation, COVID-19 related or not, it is clear that his actions have not only aided Americans, but also the entire world. His actions are unprecedented and is one of the strongest forces in leading the world out of this dreadful state. From January 20 to today, Biden is making sure that he can do the best he can and he is fulfilling it.

Olivia T. 

Despite making many promises to the American citizens, President Biden hasn’t fulfilled or stayed true to many of them. Some say President Biden has done a great job. I disagree. 

One of Biden’s unfulfilled promises is his environmental-based stance against global warming. Japan has recently approved of releasing Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater into the ocean, which further deteriorates the environment and would contaminate marine life. [1] There has been criticism of this from Greenpeace, South Korea, and China. The United States, against President Biden’s promise to help the environment, has supported Japan’s decision. There will be consequences to the Biden administration. 

President Biden has also promised to meet with the Black Lives Matter protesters, but has instead ignored their meeting requests. [2] Based on the 2020 election result, black Americans supported President Biden the most. [3] Yet, he ignores his very own citizens, in particular, the ones that voted for him. A President knows he stands for the people. Based on this, President Biden has not fulfilled that part of his role. 

The Biden administration’s vaccine plan is very similar to former President Trump’s. The only difference was President Biden came at the right time, when vaccine rollouts were available, and the Trump administration wasn’t so lucky. It is also important to remember that a ‘great president’ is not equivalent to ‘a better president compared to the last one’. [4] 

A President is supposed to collaborate with other countries and work towards a common goal unless it poses a direct threat to their citizens. While the former President has tried to make amends with China and Russia, President Biden has stirred up foreign relations towards them. To understand and hopefully collaborate with them to improve both countries, President Biden should not quickly dismiss countries. [5] To be allied with some countries doesn’t mean you can’t be allied with others as well. President Ronald Regan was better in this area - he kept an open mind in the interests of the United States and worked with China. The consequences were a huge boom to both parties. [6] 

Presidents should look for new paths to forge for the country, leading in innovation, creating laws that are consequential enough to not be overwritten by the next. There has been a steady trend with the last three Presidents, former President Barack Obama, former President Donald Trump, and President Biden. President Obama created Obamacare. President Donald Trump removed Obamacare, increased the number of workers in the oil sectors, and prevented illegal immigration. Now, President Biden is bringing back the Affordable Care Act, trying to limit oil production, and letting America be a home to all that need it. President Biden is repeating the mistakes of the past. America needs to move on. We need a President who can help bring us forward. Joe Biden is not that President. 

President Biden has not been a phenomenal or even great President so far. He has made detrimental immigration acts, splitting families apart; postponed many press conferences within the first 100 days of his term; [7] increased the United States debt dramatically [8];  and sacrificed American jobs [9].

No, President Biden has not done a good enough job. We can only hope. Hope for the People, that President Biden will do what’s best for America. Hope he will learn from his mistakes. If not, America might be freefalling towards a downward spiral. 

In-Text Citation

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56728068

[4]https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/19/officials-say-trump-had-no-plan-for-vaccines-a-look-back-says-differently

[2] https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-lives-matter-accuses-joe-biden-of-ignoring-their-meeting-requests/

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/exit-polls-president.html

[5] https://news.yahoo.com/joe-biden-blunt-russia-china-080036028.html

[6] https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/our-relationship/policy-history/40-years-of-u-s-china-relations/presidents-of-the-united-states-in-china/

[7]

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-press-conference/

[8]

https://www.newsweek.com/us-national-debt-highest-ever-two-months-bidens-presidency-1582055

[9]

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/01/22/keystone-pipeline-jobs-lost-joe-biden-executive-order-cancel-fact-check/6673822002/