Behind the News: Farewell Biden w/ Branko Marcetic
Jan 3, 2025
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Branko Marcetic, Jacobin staff writer and author of Yesterday's Man, delivers a critical farewell to Joe Biden, dissecting his presidency and public approval decline. He also critiques media figures like Joe Scarborough for influencing political discourse. Joining him, Santiago Perez, an economics professor at UC Davis, presents a revealing study on the unchanged socioeconomic dynamics in elite college admissions. Their conversation dives into the stark inequalities within higher education and the broader implications for society and democracy.
Joe Biden's presidency is marked by disappointment, facing criticism for unfulfilled promises amid challenges like war and inflation.
Over his career, Biden shifted from a left-leaning populist to a centrist, influenced by corporate interests and prevailing political winds.
Research shows elite colleges have maintained a similar socio-economic profile for decades, reflecting persistent inequities in educational access and opportunity.
Deep dives
The Disappointing Presidency of Joe Biden
Joe Biden's presidency is characterized by an overall disappointing performance, leaving him with a net approval rating of minus 19, as many feel he has not fulfilled the promises and expectations set at the beginning of his term. Despite some early optimism that he could be the new Franklin D. Roosevelt, challenges such as war, inflation, and concerns about his mental capacity have overshadowed his achievements. Critics argue that his political track record has culminated in a presidency that has done substantial damage to the nation, both domestically and internationally. The discussion also highlights that while some personal experiences merit sympathy, they do not outweigh the perceived failures of his administration.
Biden's Political Evolution
Joe Biden's early political career began with a left-leaning populist approach, where he vocally supported social policies aimed at benefiting the working class. Over time, however, he shifted to a more centrist and conservative stance, particularly during the Reagan era, embracing deficit hawk ideologies and tough-on-crime policies. His evolution also involved significant ties to corporate interests, particularly in Delaware, where the influence of business donors became prominent. This transition illustrates how politicians often adjust their positions based on prevailing political winds rather than a consistent commitment to particular values or programs.
The Impact of the War on Crime
Biden's legislative contributions to the criminal justice system during the 1980s positioned him as a leading figure in the tough-on-crime movement, which involved advocating for strict sentencing laws that disproportionately affected marginalized communities. He was instrumental in enacting policies that led to severe penal consequences for drug offenses, which many now view as racially biased and damaging to society. Furthermore, his collaboration with controversial figures, such as Strom Thurmond, raises questions about his motives and the race-related implications of his policies. These aspects of his legislative history continue to resonate in the current discourse surrounding criminal justice reform.
Foreign Policy Failures
Biden's foreign policy approach has come under fire, particularly with respect to military interventions and relations with nations like Iraq, China, and Israel. Initially supportive of interventions, Biden has been criticized for perpetuating cycles of violence and failing to foster diplomatic solutions. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which Biden initially leveraged as a rallying point, is viewed as a mismanaged venture that has escalated tensions rather than resolved issues, leading to severe ramifications both domestically and internationally. The overall impression is that his foreign policy decisions are contributing to a destabilized geopolitical landscape.
The Evolving Landscape of Elite College Admissions
Research indicates that elite colleges have maintained a strikingly consistent socio-economic profile over the past century, despite dramatic increases in overall college attendance across the U.S. Although racial diversity has improved, the representation of students from lower-income families remains alarmingly low, often reflecting the economic disparities in American society. The data suggests that while educational access has broadened, elite institutions still predominantly serve wealthier demographics, perpetuating a socio-economic status quo. This stability in the economic makeup of student bodies raises critical questions about equity and opportunity within higher education.
Branko Marcetic, staff writer at Jacobin and author of Yesterday's Man, says farewell to Joe Biden (and takes some shots at Joe Scarborough too). Santiago Pérez, co-author of a recent paper, discusses his research on how little the class composition of elite college student bodies has changed.
Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global. Find the archive online: https://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/radio.html
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