HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Democratic Convention Recap: Biden and Harris Vow To Make Government Even Bigger

Views:1020
@ReasonVids

We suffered through it so you didn't have to.

------------------
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ReasonTV?subconfirmation=1
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason

Reason is the planet's leading source of news, politics, and culture from a libertarian perspective. Go to reason.com for a point of view you won't get from legacy media and old left-right opinion magazines.
----------------

The Democratic Party just hosted its first-ever virtual national convention, where it nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for president and vice president. The goal of the four-day event was to unify the party's moderates and progressives by focusing on President Donald Trump's moral and political failings. 

But despite all the talk of change, it was clear that after four years of rising walls, spiraling debt, and rule by executive order, the Democrats are resolved to stay the course and continue expanding the size and scope of the federal government.

Biden blasted the Trump administration for its disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic and pledged to institute a national mask mandate; the rest of his plan was short on specifics. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose decision to return elderly people infected with COVID-19 to nursing homes led to thousands of deaths, was summoned to provide the party's vision for responsible leadership.

The Democrats sought to exploit the coronavirus to justify bigger government—what they call "bold" federal action. They pledged strong gun control measures to respond to an "epidemic of gun violence," even though the gun homicide rate today is half what it was in the early '90s.

They promised that a Biden-Harris administration would address systemic racial bias and reform a criminal justice system that, ironically, Biden played a lead role in creating. But the speeches were short on specifics about what a Democratic White House would actually do to reverse the impact of laws like the 1994 crime bill, which Biden defended all the way up until the beginning of his presidential campaign last year. 

The party did offer numerous proposals for new government mandates and increased spending on social programs to fight racial and wealth inequality. It also tied social justice issues to Biden's $2 trillion plan to address climate change, which he's selling as a form of economic stimulus—even as the federal debt just climbed above 100 percent of gross domestic product.

Similar to Trump, Biden promises to move jobs back to the U.S. And though former President Bill Clinton attacked Trump's tariffs on China, Biden hasn't committed to repealing those tariffs if elected.

A major theme was Trump's incompetence, divisiveness, and general inability to rise to the challenges he has confronted. Convention organizers sought to convince voters that Joe Biden would bring back decency and the pre-Trump normal. 

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the Democrats' most visible critic of our endless wars, wasn't invited, but former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who alongside Biden helped make the case for the Iraq War, delivered a speech. He argued that a Biden administration would bring back the glory days of America projecting its power around the globe.

Hillary Clinton called Trump's concerns about vote-by-mail fraud a conspiracy theory, and then repeated one of her own, claiming that it wasn't her fault she lost the election: Russia stole it away. 

Even if you're disaffected with 2-party politics-as-normal, even if you find the major candidates unacceptable election after election, the 2020 Democratic National Convention was designed to convince you that you can create change at the polls this time for real, and that voting is not just your right but your responsibility—just as long as you vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Written and edited by Justin Monticello. Graphics by Isaac Reese and Meredith Bragg. Research by Regan Taylor. Audio production by Ian Keyser.

libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
democratic national convention 2020
,
election 2020
,
joe biden
,
kamala harris
,
democratic party
,
dnc
    Thumbnail for Science Denialism on the Left: Sex, Gender, and Trans Identity4:10
    Science Denialism on the Left: Sex, Gender, and Trans Identity
    ReasonVids
    967 views
    Thumbnail for Gay Marriage, Drunk Driving, and Property Rights: 3 Supreme Court Cases to Watch in 20137:47
    Gay Marriage, Drunk Driving, and Property Rights: 3 Supreme Court Cases to Watch in 2013
    ReasonVids
    883 views
    Thumbnail for Academy Awards Alert! Why You Might Be a Fashion Criminal6:31
    Academy Awards Alert! Why You Might Be a Fashion Criminal
    ReasonVids
    894 views
    Thumbnail for Affirmative action White House press nigger can’t answer basic questions1:58
    Affirmative action White House press nigger can’t answer basic questions
    bestofvoatxyz
    1090 views
    Thumbnail for The Rabbit Hole6:10
    The Rabbit Hole
    murdochmurdoch
    1917 views
    Thumbnail for The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping4:31
    The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
    Frosty
    2151 views
    Thumbnail for Based cameraman can see through the lie0:35
    Based cameraman can see through the lie
    bestofvoatxyz
    489 views
    Thumbnail for "America Has Ceased to Exist": Investment Guru Doug Casey on the Coming Economic Meltdown15:44
    "America Has Ceased to Exist": Investment Guru Doug Casey on the Coming Economic Meltdown
    ReasonVids
    862 views
    Thumbnail for 7 Creepy Robots for Cops7:04
    7 Creepy Robots for Cops
    ReasonVids
    841 views
    Thumbnail for ...only the hypocritical and homosexuals hate perky tits1:44
    ...only the hypocritical and homosexuals hate perky tits
    AOU
    2125 views
    Thumbnail for Like the founders envisioned ...? Bitch, the founders would have already convicted you and your democrat cohorts of treason and left you swinging outside the courthouse2:40
    Like the founders envisioned ...? Bitch, the founders would have already convicted you and your democrat cohorts of treason and left you swinging outside the courthouse
    AOU
    1384 views
    Thumbnail for Who Remembers the Yellow Sun 3:59
    Who Remembers the Yellow Sun
    AOUisgay
    508 views
    Thumbnail for The Right to Bear Arms Is Still a Check on Tyranny1:45
    The Right to Bear Arms Is Still a Check on Tyranny
    ReasonVids
    938 views
    Thumbnail for We're the ones who hold the Power4:51
    We're the ones who hold the Power
    AOUisgay
    472 views
    Thumbnail for The Real REASON Why Rockstar Added The Musket in GTA... | IQW0:44
    The Real REASON Why Rockstar Added The Musket in GTA... | IQW
    invidious
    317 views
    Thumbnail for 3 Ways to Make Obamacare Less Totally Horrible2:24
    3 Ways to Make Obamacare Less Totally Horrible
    ReasonVids
    844 views
    Thumbnail for Is Homeschooling a Universal Human Right?13:51
    Is Homeschooling a Universal Human Right?
    ReasonVids
    828 views
    Thumbnail for The 3 Best and Worst Moments of the Las Vegas GOP Debate4:42
    The 3 Best and Worst Moments of the Las Vegas GOP Debate
    ReasonVids
    965 views
    Thumbnail for 5 Reasons Obamacare Won't Save You2:26
    5 Reasons Obamacare Won't Save You
    ReasonVids
    981 views
    Thumbnail for Director of School Choice Documentary "The Lottery" - Madeline Sackler9:07
    Director of School Choice Documentary "The Lottery" - Madeline Sackler
    ReasonVids
    938 views
    Thumbnail for Orange Man is Definitely Bad0:34
    Orange Man is Definitely Bad
    poalcatbox
    670 views
    Thumbnail for Trump Is Terrible on Trade. Top 2020 Dems Are No Better.4:10
    Trump Is Terrible on Trade. Top 2020 Dems Are No Better.
    ReasonVids
    934 views
    Thumbnail for Listen up! This little man has an important message to share.0:06
    Listen up! This little man has an important message to share.
    bestofupgoat
    491 views
    Thumbnail for Michael Shaw on Crafting the President's Image5:44
    Michael Shaw on Crafting the President's Image
    ReasonVids
    935 views

points

Permalink
Reply
libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
democratic national convention 2020
,
election 2020
,
joe biden
,
kamala harris
,
democratic party
,
dnc
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle