INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: Uncategorized

  • Biden’s First Term

    If you are out there canvassing, someone might ask you, “What have the Democrats accomplished, really?” You can feel secure in responding, “A lot!” Here’s some of the highlights of what the Dems have done in the last year and a half.

    Economy

    Unemployment rate down to 3.9 percent, lowest rate since 1969

    8.3 million jobs created

    Wages paid by private businesses saw an increase of 2.4 percent from Jan to Oct last year and disposable income rose by 3 percent

    Buy American Order – encouraging the purchase of American-made products

    Moratorium on student loans which deeply affects the lowest income Americans

    Revamped the PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) which encourages people to work in lower-paying public sector jobs

    Release of strategic oil reserves to keep oil prices down; now trying to make nice with Saudi Arabia to increase oil production (not my favorite thing he’s doing for sure but it will help the economy – I would prefer if we pivot to renewables instead of continuing with fossil fuels)

    Deficit reduced by $350 billion (with projections of another $500 billion to 1 trillion in further reductions by end of September)

    Inflation reduction act passed – creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces deficit spending, makes corporations pay more of their fair share of taxes.

     

    Pandemic

    Rejoined World Health Organization

    1.9 trillion COVID relief, including $20 billion for the vaccination program and $350 billion into local relief efforts – legislation also tackled child poverty and nutritional issues

    Free COVID tests

    Requiring federal employees including military to get vaccinated

    Getting 72 percent of adult Americans fully vaccinated

    Running PSA campaigns around vaccination

     

    Climate

    Re-entered Paris Climate Accord

    Agreement to reverse deforestation and pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030

    Ordered all government agencies to halt the financing of new international carbon-intensive fossil fuel projects and work towards clean energy use

    Zero-emission vehicles mandated for the federal fleet (will create 1 million new jobs for Americans)

    550,000 charging stations to be built for EV vehicles

    Large-scale offshore wind projects

    Inflation reduction act makes largest investment in clean energy ever in history and creates millions of clean-energy jobs; incentives for individuals and businesses to create/purchase clean energy vehicles and appliances

     

    Infrastructure

    Passed bipartisan 1.2 trillion infrastructure package – including expanding internet to those who don’t have it, clean energy, and safe drinking water

    Eased supply chain issues

    Working with Taiwan to increase microchip supplies

     

    Human Life

    Passed the gun safety act

    Passed Hate Crimes Act

    Halted federal executions (which DT had reinstated after it had been paused for 17 years) – doesn’t affect states though

    Diversity in his cabinet and in the WH staff

    Overturned previous administration’s ban on openly trans members of the military

    Increased children’s access to free lunches

    Lowest child poverty rate ever

    Food insecurity in American households dropped 32 percent

    Inflation Reduction Act lowers costs on prescription drug prices for seniors and lowers health insurance costs for lower income Americans

    Health care and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits

     

    Judicial

    Appointed 41 federal judges (73 nominated) – 80 percent are women and 53 percent are people of color – this is often where Supreme Court Justices come from (highest appointment rate since Reagan)

     

    Foreign Policy

    Strengthening the QUAD (US, India, Australia, Japan)

    Anticipated war in Ukraine, warned Russia, and got 30 countries to work together to oppose Russian aggression

    Support of Ukraine without getting us into WWIII & world sanctions on Russia

    Strengthening of NATO

    End of 20-year war in Afghanistan

    Executed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri

     

    Sources:

  • Say This/Not That

    Contributed by Liza Watson.

    “Active listening” is giving someone your full attention as they speak. Listening to someone instead of commandeering talk time or simply waiting for the moment to say your piece matters in many communication contexts, especially in persuasion and negotiation. Respond with a question to learn more, and allow space for the answer to come:

    Scenario:  You are knocking on women voters’ doors to encourage voting for a candidate who has a good record on women’s issues. You ask which women’s issues matter to the voter and the voter responds, “taxes.”

    Say this:  I’d like to hear why you chose taxes as the issue.
    Not this:  Taxes! I asked about women’s issues.
    Not this: Taxes! Doesn’t the tax scam bill rile you up!

    Say this:  [Nothing] – instead of speaking, listen.
    Not this:  But (with intake of breath), Wait you’re wrong, My candidate “gets” it.

    Say this:  I heard you say taxes are a big problem in your budget.  Would you tell me more?
    Not this:  Geez, taxes are bad for me too.
    Not this:  We have to vote the buzzards out.