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1/So, I'm really liking what I'm seeing of Biden's plans so far. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-07-15/biden-s-green-plans-put-sanders-warren-s-and-best-ideas-to-work
2/His tax plan is solid. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-04/biden-to-target-tax-avoiding-companies-with-minimum-federal-levy?sref=R8NfLgwS
3/His housing plan is solid but narrow; it will need more parts for housing construction, homeownership, and so on. https://www.vox.com/2020/7/9/21316912/joe-biden-housing-plan-section-8
4/I like his industrial policy plan too, though the "Buy American" part could be problematic. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-07-10/biden-s-economic-plan-is-good-start-that-needs-some-improvements?sref=R8NfLgwS
5/And now Biden has come out with a big climate plan. And I really really like it! https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-14/biden-to-call-for-2-trillion-in-clean-energy-spending?sref=R8NfLgwS
6/The plan's centerpiece is a rapid transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Biden will start out by spending $2 trillion over 4 years. That's a lot of money!
Biden will start out by spending $2 trillion over 4 years. That's a lot of money!
7/The first reason this is a good plan is that the technology is in the right place. Solar power has become insanely cheap, to the point where it can replace a substantial fraction of coal and gas immediately. https://rameznaam.com/2020/05/14/solars-future-is-insanely-cheap-2020/
8/To get 100% replacement, of course, you need storage technology. Storage isn't quite there yet. But the more energy storage we build, the more the technology improves! So Biden's plan will hopefully get us all the way there in 15 years. https://rameznaam.com/2015/10/14/how-cheap-can-energy-storage-get/
9/Biden would also replace the entire U.S. auto fleet with electric, fuel-cell, or hybrid cars. This would probably take a decade. That's fast! And that's a big deal! https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/15/biden-plans-massive-electric-car-push/
10/So all the technology is in place for a huge spending push.
The second reason Biden's plan is good is because it's focused on INVESTMENT.
The second reason Biden's plan is good is because it's focused on INVESTMENT.
11/With interest rates low, deficit spending isn't a problem right now. So we can easily afford to borrow to build the green energy future, right now.
Biden's plan focuses on temporary spending rather than permanent new entitlements that could lead to more structural deficits.
Biden's plan focuses on temporary spending rather than permanent new entitlements that could lead to more structural deficits.
12/Because it would provide abundant cheap energy, Biden's plan would also partially (though of course not entirely) pay for itself, by stimulating economic activity. This also happened with the interstate highway system.
13/Finally, Biden's plan focuses on JOBS. He would create a Climate Conservation Corps, bringing back a key New Deal program (with the same acronym!).
With millions of Americans out of work, this CCC will help us get back on our feet quickly.
With millions of Americans out of work, this CCC will help us get back on our feet quickly.
14/Biden's climate plan most closely resembles that of Washington governor Jay Inslee. It might not be called a "Green New Deal", but it's a green version of the original New Deal. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-05-23/jay-inslee-s-green-new-deal-tops-aoc-s-plan?sref=R8NfLgwS
15/One question is whether this is enough to win over progressive voters, who care about climate change a lot.
Signs point to Yes. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/upshot/democrats-united-poll-election.html
Signs point to Yes. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/upshot/democrats-united-poll-election.html
16/And remember, Bernie is now working WITH Biden, helping to make his plans bigger, bolder, more transformational. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/joe-biden-bernie-sanders-task-force-recommendations/index.html
17/Six months ago, no one thought this elderly centrist would be a bold transformational progressive leader -- a 21st century FDR.
But it's starting to look like against all odds, he might be able to pull it off.
But it's starting to look like against all odds, he might be able to pull it off.
18/Biden is basically combining the best parts of his primary rivals' campaigns -- the social justice focus of Harris/Castro, the economic progressivism of Sanders/Warren, and the climate activism of Inslee.
The Dems might be creating a Voltron FDR.
The Dems might be creating a Voltron FDR.
19/I wasn't optimistic about Biden as the person to revitalize and renew America, and I'm still cautious, but I'm getting a little more optimistic.
(end) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-07-15/biden-s-green-plans-put-sanders-warren-s-and-best-ideas-to-work?sref=R8NfLgwS
(end) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-07-15/biden-s-green-plans-put-sanders-warren-s-and-best-ideas-to-work?sref=R8NfLgwS
