By Carlton Joseph

The inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris  took place without incident on January 20 last as 25,000 national guard troops secured Washington.  Biden called for unity and respect and promised to be the president for all Americans. He also recognized that the country is facing one of its most difficult moments, and called it a perfect storm: “the worst pandemic in over 100 years, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the most compelling call for racial justice since the ’60s, and the accelerating threats of climate change.”

“Are we ready?”  the President then asked.

Most Americans are ready but Republican law makers are not.In fact  Republicans are using the call for “unity” to deflect demands that Trump be impeached, and insist on power sharing in order to have veto power over the initiatives of the new administration. To address the pandemic, Biden proposed a relief plan of 1.9 trillion dollars, Senior Republicans declared it dead on arrival because it included an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, will  provide $1,400 direct payments to individuals earning under $75,000, heads of households under $112,500, and married couples filing jointly or surviving spouses earning under $150,000.  Republican Senators objected, saying some of the recipients don’t need the money.

This is the opening salvo from Republicans. In exchange for “unity”, Democrats must sacrifice their pledge to deliver economic relief to the American people.   But the fact that the Senate is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans makes governance difficult.  For example, although both parties agreed that the party holding the White House would set the floor agenda and chair committees, while the panels themselves would be evenly split, they could not agree on even the basic rules about how the evenly divided body should operate. 

Republican Senator Mitch McConnnell finally agreed to a power-sharing agreement with Democrats, citing comments from Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who said they would not favor eliminating the filibuster, which requires a 60-vote supermajority to advance most legislation. These two senators broke ranks before the legislative session started.  If this is an indication of things to come, the Democrats will not accomplish anything and will probably lose control of both houses in the next two years.  

Senior Democrat lawmakers and groups that supported Democrats are exerting pressure on Congress to enact economic relief quickly, even if it means cutting Republicans out of the deal. Senator Elizabeth Warren said: “It’s important that Democrats deliver for America…. but if Republicans want to cut back to the point that we’re not delivering what needs to be done, then we need to be prepared to fight them.” And  Senator Bernie Sanders said.“What we need to do now is, in very bold and clear ways, make people understand government is directly improving their lives.”  

In a major decision that will affect Canadians, President Biden revoked the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline permit.  The decision infuriated Prime Minister Trudeau and the company’s president, Mr. Richard Prior declared that more than 1000 jobs will be lost when the company stops construction.  Indigenous leaders and environmentalists welcomed Biden’s executive order cancelling the KXL project, but insists that he must cancel similar polluting fossil fuel projects, including the Dakota Access pipeline. 

Currently, three major oil pipeline projects are proposed or underway in Canada for a total of 1,790,000 barrels per day.  These infrastructure projects will create jobs for Canadians, and provide access to international markets.  However, Canadians must recognize that the threat of climate change is forcing the world to focus on renewable energy projects such as wind, solar and geothermal, and climate change activists are fighting the pipeline as part of the anti-fossil fuel movement called, “Keep It in The Ground” that looks to end the use of oil in favor of renewable energy.

Canadians must understand that the 2020 elections saw a historic turnout of Native Americans, who helped deliver victory for Biden in key states including Arizona and Wisconsin.  They have found their voice and are demanding a halt fossil fuel projects which threaten their land, water, health, culture and security.  The window of opportunity is closing for these projects, Canadian companies must begin the transition to alternate energy sources.

In the past, these companies have been disrespectful of tribal rights insisting that there is no legal obligation to work with tribes, and that they only do it because their policy position is that it’s a good, neighborly thing to do.  Others insist that tribes protesting the project  are not all that concerned on whether the pipeline will use sacred land, and are really just looking for a bigger cut of the revenue. Others claim that the tribes just want “easy money.”

These companies need to accept that tribes have rights and if they want more revenue for using their land, then the companies must negotiate a deal that reflects the value their property brings to the project.  A history of broken promises, and treaties have informed Native Americans. They understand that Oklahoma was chosen as Indian Territory because it was thought to be worth little but the state turned out to hold substantial oil and natural gas reserves.  The native people have been fighting for a toll on the crude that will pass through the pipeline.They deserve it. 

Back in the Congress, Biden has to deal with the split senate that was designed to be anti-democratic from inception.  Anti-democratic in that a state like Wyoming with 600,000 residents has two senators and California with 39 million residents also has two, resulting in the minority ruling the majority.  This situation is replicated in many states, resulting in a general pattern where the more rural, lower population, white conservative states have significantly more voting power than the urban, highly populated multi-racial states.  This is the primary source of gridlock in the senate and it’s crippling American democracy.

This 50-50 split in the senate means that the 50 Democrats represent more than 41 million more Americans than the 50 Republicans.  This ridiculous power in-balance is exacerbated when one considers that Biden won the election by more than seven million votes.  The 147 Republican congressmen who voted against certifying the election clearly  indicate that they desire an autocratic or fascist government. 

Democrats have vowed to pass legislation that would help working families.  If  Biden insists on bipartisan legislation, he will be submitting to congressional paralysis, and will pave the road for the next Trump-like politician, like Ted Cruz or Josh Hawley, who will be more disciplined and dangerous than Trump.

The American system of governance is leaving too many Americans to despair and misery, too many problems unsolved, too many people disillusioned.  Both parties primarily serve the interests of corporations and archaic government rules make the Congress impotent.  Most people want a job, shelter and to be able to provide for their families but the economic system of austerity has decimated jobs, and forced thirty-four million Americans into poverty.  Biden must act boldly and do what is right for the people. The corporate elites will just have to “suck it up.”

(Trinidad-born Carlton Joseph who lives in Washington DC, is a close observer of political developments in the United States.)