Five days to go to Election Day! Yet, Dear Readers, you have flooded our mailbox with policy questions as a response to this explanation of the impact that public policy has on our lives and the American brand. Today, this blog will analyze the economic impact of the policy platforms each candidate has put forth and answer your questions. So, without further ado, let’s get into this!
Welcome to new and returning readers to the Branding24Seven community! This blog is the brainchild of JMStrategy LLC (JMS), a boutique consulting firm that offers strategic solutions to strengthen the brands of organizations and individuals. The best solutions are the ones that take into consideration public policies (both at the local and federal levels) since, as we have all seen this year, their impact can turn our lives upside down in an instant.
At the time of the writing of this publication, Dear Readers, roughly 52 million Americans have already voted. Here is a voting information tool that classifies early voting information by state so you can find out where to vote right immediately after reading this post.
Let’s start with the incumbent: Trump’s second term agenda promising to fight for you.
Alright, Dear Readers, this blog is not going to rehash what President Trump put forth in last week’s presidential debate. The second term agenda he spelled on his website provides a clear path to stimulate America’s economy. With a national unemployment rate hovering right below 8%, economic recovery matters tremendously!
This blog is particularly fond of ending the U.S. reliance on China and bringing back manufacturing jobs from China. Indeed, as discussed at length, We, The People in the Land of the Free, should consider buying locally and investing in the American brand. The JMS team wants to see the American people back to work even if it has to happen in inconvenient conditions (masks and all) since lockdowns have proven to be ineffective to combat the spread of COVID-19. We are all going crazy at the possibility of being stuck at home again for any length of time! Wouldn’t say, Dear Readers?!
Now, you may not like his style and bravado. Many have even called him racist. But you must recognize, Dear Readers, that he was well on his way to fulfilling his many 2016 campaign promises and producing, in the process, one of the most formidable economic resurgence after tremendous turmoil (circa the Great Recession is 2008) in the last 50 years? We began 2020 with an enviable 3.5% unemployment rate! The general sentiment of prosperity seemed to be pulsing through the nation, despite a growing chorus disapproving of his immigration policies. But what could you expect? He told us that he would put America First…. He, unlike many other politicians, has managed to stay true to the values pledged on the campaign trail and while holding residence in the White House.
If you are happy with his actions thus far, there is no reason to believe that he will not follow through on his second term promises!
Let’s move to the alternative: Biden’s battle for the soul of a nation
According to his website, Biden promises to do quite a bit for the American people! Indeed, he will give a fair shot to all Americans and rebuild the middle class. He will also ensure that all Americans are treated with dignity, create a more resilient sustainable economy, build America back better, and give every American affordable health care. Dear Readers, doesn’t this litany of promises sound amazing? But, how is he going to make all of that happen when, this year alone, the federal government spent an unprecedented $2.2 trillion via the CARES Act to combat COVID-19 and so far, has spent a record $6.5 trillion in fiscal 2020. All necessary, no doubt about it! And if Congress approves another round of stimulus, will that be another trillion and a half to continue fighting COVID-19? With a deficit surpassing $3 trillion to date, can Biden deliver?
Forget battling for the soul of a nation! Can we get the economy back on track and lift hard-working Americans out of the likely coronavirus-induced recession that is pointing on the horizon?!! How does he plan to create jobs exactly? Is he bringing back manufacturing jobs from China? He has vaguely discussed necessary tax hikes. But, how is he getting starving yet driven Americans back to work when entire industries are on life support (cruise lines, airlines, hotels, retail, hospitality and tourism, sports and performing arts, motion picture, and sound recording for TV and movie sets)? Will tax hikes cover all of these severely impacted industries? The American people are tired of lockdowns. And if Biden wants to listen to scientists and impose another lockdown, the economic recovery he is peddling is all but a mirage, won’t you say, Dear Readers?!!!
So, Dear Readers, do you have a preference for one of these economic plans besides the questions this blog raise so far? Again, it bears repeating that today’s publication is not mean to rehash the policy platforms of either candidate. Since JMS works with clients in different industries, this blog chose to focus on the economic welfare of the nation as a whole. As the US economic structure has moved away from manufacturing toward more service jobs in the last thirty years, it seems that the American people have been progressively more vulnerable and exposed to global perturbations. Of course, this comes with the nature of having a more globalized economy when the fortunes of the U.S. economy are inextricably intertwined with that of other nations both allies and trading partners. Against this backdrop, is it surprising that we were due for a pandemic? So, what now???
What about the gravest health crisis of 2020: Beating COVID-19?
Isn’t this the million-dollar question, Dear Readers?! This blog would be remiss to skip this most relevant matter of 2020 besides the presidential election. This blog concedes that President Trump’s response to the coronavirus has not been great. At the time of the writing of this publication, there are 226,833 deaths and 8.8 million confirmed cases in the U.S. Given an approximate overall population of 328.9 million, COVID-19 affected approximately 2.6 percent of the U.S. population. While that is a tragedy, the U.S. has fared a lot better than some of our less populated European counterparts.
For instance, Paris entered some version of a lockdown earlier this month even though COVID-19 affected 17.9 percent of the overall population of the French nation is only 6.8 million. In the middle of the month, London entered a new phase of coronavirus lockdown restrictions as the pandemic affected 1.4 percent of the overall population of the U.K. is a substantial 65 million. Last week, Ireland entered an emergency six-week lockdown as COVID-19 affected 1 percent of its 5 million population. And last Sunday, Italy entered a month-long phase of new lockdown restrictions as 0.8 percent of its 65 million population comprise of confirmed coronavirus cases.
What can you infer from all these statistics? One, no one can control the virus. Two, the verdict is still out on whether a mask mandate can stop the spread of the coronavirus. Three, lockdowns are not a reliable tool to combat the coronavirus but a great weapon to destroy the local economy. Given these observations, this blog does not believe that it is productive to blame President Trump for all the coronavirus deaths the U.S. has had so far or wishfully hope that, if elected, Biden would miraculously stop the spread of COVID-19. Every country in the world is battling this pandemic with grim results. Maybe the answer is to learn to live with this nightmare until we have a vaccine.
Yes, we are all upset and traumatized by this global pandemic. Yes, it is disheartening to think about how many loved ones we’ve prematurely lost this year. But how shall we move forward? That’s what you’ll have to decide, Dear Readers. Do you want to get a federal mask mandate and brace for a lengthy lockdown (until we have a vaccine) with Biden?
Or, do you want to power through this COVID-19 monstrosity by respecting state and local regulations as President Trump adheres to federalism, a cornerstone principle this blog believes in just like our founding fathers did. Indeed, he resisted the understandable impulse to impose federal guidelines and recognized that the power rests with the states and not the federal government to protect the God-given negative rights only. When it’s all set and done, this blog commends President Trump for staying true to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution despite the barrage of criticism the mainstream media has not stopped throwing his way!
In this great nation of ours, Dear Readers, democracy is a messy process but so very worth it! Indeed, the U.S. Constitution created a government powerful enough to protect our God-given negative rights but not powerful enough to invade them! By devising a system of checks and balances between all three branches of our government, spelling out a list of enumerated powers, and weaving the principle of federalism so tightly throughout the tapestry of the Land of the Free, it is a blessing to be an American.
There you have it, Dear Readers! Thanks for stopping by today and taking the time to read today’s publication. The JMS team hopes that this refreshingly honest take on public policy has struck a chord with you, Dear Readers. Please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Comments are always welcomed below or by email at jms@branding24seven.com. Don’t be afraid to send questions or follow up topics you would like to see this blog examine further. The JMS team wants to hear from everyone, so questions from liberals, conservatives, and independents are all welcomed!
You can always send us mail at:
JMStrategy LLC
21 S. 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
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