In USA the firm Ben and Jerry has been pretty active in commenting on issues. In the link below they have assessed the record of President Biden under the following headings. Underneath these headings I have copied part of their summary.
The important issue for me is that they have a really good framework under which they analyse things in a thoughtful and slightly detached manner. I wonder if there is anybody who might be interested in creating a framework we could apply to measure our Council, and the organisations they control like CCHL and ChristchurchNZ, and their performance. Here’s a summary of what the Ben and Jerry organisation wrote. I recommend that you read the whole document, it really is good:
The Pandemic
The new administration immediately set a new tone. They centered the advice of scientists, put together a competent team to manage and accelerate vaccine distribution, and communicated plans openly and transparently. The pandemic is far from over and racial disparities in vaccine distribution remain a serious problem, but we’re finally feeling like we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Climate Crisis
President Biden has made it clear that climate change will be treated like the crisis it is. It’s been elevated as a planning and strategic priority across the whole of the federal government, from transportation to the military. The US rejoined the Paris Agreement and is again working with global partners to fight climate change. These are significant steps, but success will be measured by whether the US can truly implement policies and processes that dramatically cut emissions and help guide an equitable transition to a clean-energy future.
Racial Justice
Modern-day American racism, with its roots in slavery and white supremacy, can’t be overcome in 100 days. While the new administration, having appointed the most diverse cabinet in history, has shown a willingness to listen and learn, what we really need is action. In particular, we need to make sure President Biden takes concrete steps to protect voting rights, transform American policing, and rebuild our system of public safety.
Immigration
President Biden’s initial decision to keep in place the previous administration’s historically low cap on refugees allowed into the US sparked outrage among families, activists, advocates, and members of his own party, leading him to reverse courseOpens a new window within hours. A surge of people, including young children, attempting to enter the US along the Southern border has created a humanitarian crisis that the Biden administration has so far appeared incapable of managing. We must keep pressure on the president to ensure that he finds a solution to these and other challenges facing our immigration system.
The Economy
President Biden announced the American Rescue PlanOpens a new window right away and, with relatively little drama, got it passed by Congress. This legislation directed money to where it was needed the most Opens a new window: working people, state economies, small businesses, schools, and more. Unfortunately, a minimum-wage increase was left out of the final package. We’d also like to see the administration push for student-loan forgiveness.
Here’s the whole link: https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2021/04/first-100-days.
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