Joe Biden just took a big swing
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on and shine a lot on both income inequality and racial inequality in the United States – two very complex issues that Donald Trump isn’t even attempting to look at because he can’t even answer the most basic town hall questions about the virus, Joe Biden’s campaign decided to release a new set of proposals to address racial inequality in America, promising to “Lift Every Voice.”
“This mission is more important now than ever before, as the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 have shined a light on — and cruelly exacerbated — the disparities long faced by African Americans,” Biden’s campaign announced in a press release.
Lift Every Voice offers reforms across the board for racial disparity – in the economy, education, healthcare, criminal justice, as well as voting rights and environmental justice. Under a Biden administration, his Justice Department would prioritize cracking down on the hate crimes that have become so prevalent under the Trump administration, while setting aside $900 million in federal spending for cities affected by gun violence and spending $1 billion per year on juvenile justice reform.
It would also make sure that the Small Business Administration gives better support to small businesses that are African-American owned. The plan also calls for tripling Title I funding and creating a new tax credit of up to $15,000 for families buying a house for the first time – reforms that enjoy high support across the board for Biden’s coalition of voters. Finally, Biden promises “a government that looks like America,” ensuring that the presidential cabinet and political appointees, as well as the federal workforce, represent the country’s diverse demographics. In his victory night speeches, Biden would often say to voters, even his opponents: “I hear you.” This proposal is proof that he’s been paying attention all along.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making