The Presidency and Senate for Biden or Nothing

Published in 24 Heures
(Switzerland) on 25 October 2020
by Nicolas Pinguely (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Mollie Lippett. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
Joe Biden, and quickly. It’s a short phrase which can be heard more frequently out of the mouths of economists. It’s surprising when you consider how long people have praised Donald Trump's economic record. Even in the presence of a pandemic.

COVID-19 has plunged the world economy into recession. The United States has found itself in turmoil, with soaring unemployment. We are all scratching our heads. The world's economic engine needs to get back on track. A state stimulus plan is more necessary than ever.

Joe Biden has been quick on the draw. The Democratic candidate promises to release more than $2 trillion, regardless of whether it means that debt skyrockets a bit more. It is an emergency. No wonder economists are looking favorably on a possible Biden's win.

But this win will have to be triumphant. The Democrats must win a majority in both houses of Congress. Winning the Senate, which is currently Republican, would give Democrats the freedom they need to implement their program.

Why is that? A narrow victory would allow their opponents keep their hands on Congress and therefore block Democratic action. In short, it’s Biden for Congress, or nothing.

On an economic level, the amount that Biden wants to inject into the economy represents security for the future. Like the European recovery program, the emphasis is on green energy, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Washington is taking the same route as Paris, so that the world can breathe easier.

This is determinative for the future. To maintain solid growth, the United States must bet on the economy of the future. In this respect, technologies based on solar, biomass or hydrogen will soon be indispensable. That is the cost of the productivity of the future.

As a matter of stinging detail, Biden's corporate tax hikes, designed to water this green wave, have even appealed to a number of pundits. It seems clear that Americans want to turn the page on Trump. And what if the polls, which show Biden as the clear winner, are right this time?


Joe Biden, et vite. On entend de plus en plus ce petit refrain dans la bouche des économistes. Étonnant lorsque l’on sait que le bilan économique de Donald Trump a longtemps été salué. Mais la pandémie est passée par là.

Le coronavirus a fait plonger l’économie mondiale dans la récession. Les États-Unis se retrouvent dans la tourmente, avec un chômage qui s’est envolé. On se gratte la tête. Le moteur économique de la planète doit être remis en selle. Un plan de relance étatique est plus que jamais nécessaire.

Joe Biden a dégainé. Le candidat démocrate promet de débloquer plus de 2000 milliards de dollars. Et tant pis si la dette s’envole un peu plus. C’est l’état d’urgence. Il n’est guère étonnant que les économistes voient d’un bon œil sa possible entrée à la Maison-Blanche.

Mais cette entrée devra s’accompagner d’un triomphe. Les démocrates doivent rafler la majorité aux deux chambres du Congrès, le parlement américain. Gagner le Sénat, la chambre haute, aujourd’hui républicaine, ce qui leur donnerait les coudées franches pour mettre en place leur programme.
Pourquoi? Une victoire étriquée, qui verrait ses opposants garder la main sur le parlement, bloquerait son action. Bref, le Congrès pour Biden, sinon rien.

Sur le plan économique, les montants que veut injecter Joe Biden constituent un gage pour l’avenir. À l’image du programme de relance européenne, l’accent est mis sur les énergies vertes, avec comme objectif d’atteindre la neutralité carbone à l’horizon 2050. Washington reprend le chemin de Paris. Le monde souffle mieux.

Cela est déterminant pour la suite. Pour garder un taux de croissance solide, les États-Unis doivent parier sur l’économie du futur. À cet égard, les technologies reposant sur le solaire, la biomasse ou encore l’hydrogène seront vite incontournables. La productivité de demain est à ce prix.
Détail piquant, les hausses d’impôts des entreprises prônées par Joe Biden, destinées à irriguer cette vague verte, séduisent jusqu’à certains grands patrons. Il paraît clair que les Américains veulent tourner la page Trump. Et si les sondages, qui donnent Biden largement vainqueur, ne se trompaient pas, cette fois-ci?
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Germany: Trump Declares War on Cities

Singapore: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk Leaves America at a Turning Point

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*

Israel: Antisemitism and Anti-Israel Bias: Congress Opens Investigation into Wikipedia

Venezuela: China: Authoritarianism Unites, Democracy Divides

Topics

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Singapore: Several US Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions than Answers

Venezuela: Charlie Kirk and the 2nd Amendment

Spain: Charlie Kirk and the Awful People Celebrating His Death

Germany: Trump Declares War on Cities

Japan: US Signing of Japan Tariffs: Reject Self-Righteousness and Fulfill Agreement

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*

Turkey: Blood and Fury: Killing of Charlie Kirk, Escalating US Political Violence

Related Articles

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Singapore: Several US Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions than Answers

Dominican Republic: Trump Is Rigorously Consistent

Germany: Trump Declares War on Cities

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*