3 November
Dear Joe Biden,
I am writing to you to tell you that you have wasted an opportunity. Eighty one million people voted for you last year, and I feel that you are letting them down. You worked very hard to reach this point, so why are you throwing it away? You are a Democrat, so why are you holding with so many of your predecessor's views? You called the Donald Trump's stance and policies toward Mexico "dangerous" and "inhumane", but you're continuing Title 42. Haiti has endured an economic and governmental collapse this year, but you're moving to deport 42,000 Haitians. What happened to your "humanitarian approach"? Former President Trump damaged relationships with European allies, relationships that you pledged to restore, so why did you blindside France and make a secret deal with the United Kingdom to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines? You've been working for the United States government for 48 years, wouldn't someone with your experience know how to carry out these kinds of foreign policy moves? I haven't even mentioned Afghanistan, which wasn't an easy situation for any of the parties involved, but it was most certainly not handled correctly. You've also skirted the issue of the Iran nuclear deal. on the campaign trail, you promised to bring Iran back to the table, but you've only strengthened sanctions against them and we've heard nothing about returning to negotiations.
As someone who was relieved to see you win in November, I'm shocked at your lack of conviction with regard to abortion rights. Your first year in the Senate was the year Roe v. Wade was decided. If Roe is reversed, anywhere from 93,000-143,000 women will have to travel to other states just to receive what should be basic medical care. Why are you pushing Americans to get their booster vaccine shots when 75% of the shots administered thus far have gone to the same 10 countries? For all the condemnation we've heard of Trump's "America First" policy, yours looks scarily similar. What about your commitment to the climate? There's no reason for you to have shown up at COP-26 if you're not going to make bold strokes, because the United States is responsible for 11% of the world's GHG emissions, but only holds 4.25% of the world population. Mr President, why aren't you holding the corporations who are causing the end of the planet responsible for their actions?
Your election brought hope to so many, but in the past year, you have let us down. Why are you playing it safe?
As a woman, as a person of color, as someone who has recently applied for American citizenship but might not want it anymore, I'm asking you to work with some urgency, to stop trying to be a people pleaser. We're running out of time.
Maanya
Maanya