If we listen to the right-wing conservatives you might wonder where they have been during this last year. It’s all doom and gloom with them, however, the facts of the past year are not. It has been and will continue to be a struggle here in Alabama because of the leadership we have in this state and the misunderstood reasons why anyone would support a government that is dead set against their best interests. We are still almost at the bottom of education. Here in District 4, we have not seen that 26-year promise from Robert Aderholt to have the internet in our rural areas, among other things.
The biggest mystery is why would anyone dependent on Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare vote for someone who says that they want to take it from them. Why would a family who is struggling to feed their families vote for a candidate who intends to cancel food stamps that help feed their families and take free lunches out of public schools? If you take the time to check the voting record of your State representatives in Alabama, you will see exactly why this is an issue. The most dangerous American is an uninformed and uneducated voter.
Ask yourself, why would you vote for Trump, a man who is telling you that he is going to sign laws to destroy our democracy by ripping up the Constitution, deleting the FBI, and CIA, and punishing every judge who upheld the law to prevent a stolen election? Why would you vote for a man who is obviously mentally deranged and quoting Hitler, praising communist dictators, and making threats against our country? We must take this election more seriously than we ever have or we will lose our rights, our laws, our way of life, and the very survival of our nation. This is not a drama queen. This is a fact. Trump is telling us who he is. Listen. Former Senator Liz Cheney is right when she says if Trump goes back in the White House, he will never leave. We will lose our democracy. Your vote will literally save our country from a madman who has nothing but his own personal interests as his sole reason for this upcoming election. He is out for revenge against all who have dared to cross him and hold him responsible for the many crimes that he has committed. He is unfit to hold the office. If you vote for him, that means you agree with his ranting threats. That means that every drop of blood that every Marine and soldier has lost to defend this country is all in vain. “Suckers and losers” is what he called our military. He said a decorated POW was not a hero because he was captured. While John McCain was being tortured in a prison camp, Trump was living the high life on his Daddy’s money. On January 6, we watched in real-time as our Capital was attacked by his insightful rants. He stole classified documents from our White House and we still do not know to whom he gave them to. What more do you have to know about Donald Trump to know who and what he is?
So, here is an alternative. Why should you vote for Joe Biden? Here are a few.
During the past year, we have seen the strongest job growth in our history. Nearly 11 million jobs have been created since 2021, with a record-low unemployment rate for people with disabilities. Federal workers and contractors now have a minimum wage of $15 per hour.
President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act that has saved 15 million Americans in 2023 on health insurance coverage, capped insulin at $35 for seniors on Medicare, began negotiating prices for 10 drugs, made recommended vaccines free for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and implemented four quarters of the inflation rebate provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that saved some seniors hundreds of dollars per dose of medicine. Healthcare expenses for seniors were lowered including the capping of out-of-pocket expenses on prescription drugs at $2000 per year and ensured people on Medicare will pay no more than $35 a month for insulin. The cost of hearing aids was lowered by making them available over the counter.
The nation’s uninsured rate is historically low at 8 percent. Over 16 million Americans signed up for quality, affordable health coverage, the highest number ever produced in an open enrollment period. There were 79% of American adults vaccinated against Covid-19, and over 740 million free Covid-19 tests were mailed directly to tens of millions of Americans. Cancer research advanced through the ARPA-H initiative.
Legislation was signed to reauthorize and strengthen The Violence Against Women Act that was voted against by every Republican representative in Alabama. There have been a record number of women and people of color to serve in President Biden’s Administration in history.
More Federal contracting dollars were awarded to small businesses and disadvantaged small businesses to save them from collapsing. The deficit has been lowered with the single largest annual reduction in American history.
The most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years was signed into law and not one single responsible gun owner lost their guns as the Republicans have been trying to sell the voters for years.
Remember during the Trump Administration when he signed an Executive Order to allow toxins to be deposited into our waterways? Dead fish were floating on top of the water in Walker County. People are getting sick from contaminated water all over the county, even here in Marion County. The Biden Administration awarded more than $1 Billion to initiate a cleanup and clear the backing of 49 previously unfunded Superfund sites, over $250 Million to clean up hundreds of contaminated brownfield sites, and $725 Million for abandoned mine lands.
This Administration is the best friend that Native Americans have ever had. President Biden signed an Executive Order on improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and addressing the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Protections that were taken by the Trump Administration were restored for Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monuments to conserve our lands and waters, honor our nation’s Veterans, protect Tribal cultural resources, and support jobs and America’s outdoor recreation economy. An investment was made through historical funding for Tribal governments and Native American Communities.
The Electoral Count Act was signed to protect the integrity of our elections, which is long overdue. Legislation was signed to put more law enforcement on the streets and invest in community policing.
If you have seen yourself in any of these few things that this Administration has made better for you, vote for yourself. Our democracy depends on it.
Lynda Kirkpatrick
Marion County Democratic Party Chair
SDEC Rep District 17, Alabama Democratic Party