Joe Biden 2020: Three Key Campaign Promises

Now-official Democratic candidate Joe Biden is looking to oust Donald Trump from the White House on November 3rd this year. Democratic voters are hoping that Biden will become the 15th Democratic president.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, whose unorthodox presidency could be compared loosely to, say, playing keno without a good keno strategy, will be looking to secure a second term as president.

But what are some of the key policies that Joe Biden will look to deliver on, should he beat Donald Trump?

Biden on Ending Gun Crime

The Obama-Biden administration took large steps in terms of gun control laws, and the Biden-Harris administration aims to go one step further.

As he’s quick to point out in his manifesto, around 40,000 people die due to gun-related incidents in the United States each year. 

The key promises we can take from Biden’s plan for America include:

■ Holding Gun Manufacturers Accountable

When the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms act was passed in 2005, it ensured gun manufacturers could not be held civilly liable for injury or death caused by their product. No other industry has this protection, and Joe Biden will look to repeal the act. 

■ Banning the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

The Biden-Harris administration will seek to ban any importation or sale of assault weapons, and design legislation that prevents manufacturers from maintaining lethality whilst making small adjustments that could change the gun category. However, as we’ll discuss below, assault weapons will still be able to be owned in the US.

■ Buying back the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines already in our communities.

Joe Biden’s government will give assault weapon owners the option to sell their assault weapons and high-capacity magazines back to the government or register them under the National Firearms Act.

However, this does not account for a potentially Republican-heavy Congress which may prevent Biden from modifying such acts, and, in theory, may drive sales of guns generally – or create an ‘underground market’ – before further measures are introduced.

Biden on Healthcare

The Democrats’ and Republicans’ plans for the future of healthcare in the United States has, and will, essentially come down to ingrained ideological differences in the parties. The Trump administration’s continued attacks on the Affordable Care Act have been struck down twice in court, but Joe Biden wants to go one further. 

■ Giving every American access to affordable health insurance

Instead of scrapping private health insurance plans and beginning from scratch, Biden wants to build on the current system. The Biden-Harris administration will look to give Americans a choice between health insurance provided by their employers, and a system similar to Medicare.

This will supposedly allow working-class families greater peace of mind and halt the increase in Americans going without health insurance. However, critics argue this will raise taxation on the middle class especially. 

■ Allowing consumers to buy prescription drugs from other countries

In order to increase the competition for American drug companies and combat the ever-increasing prices of prescription medicine, Joe Biden will allow all overseas companies whose products comply with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services drug standards to sell drugs in America. Similarly, Biden will prevent companies from increasing drug prices above the general level of inflation. This will help medical costs remain in line with other industries, and therefore making prices fairer and more affordable for the average citizen. 

■ Expanding access to contraception and protecting the constitutional right to an abortion

Abortion has been a controversial topic in the States during the Trump presidency. Joe Biden will take a more liberal stance on the matter, championing womens’ right to choose. His administration will also repeal the Hyde Amendment, which prevented women from having abortion fees covered by the federal government. 

Biden: For the Students

With the next generation firmly in mind, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will look to push the matters that youth care about most into the forefront of government.

■ Ensuring that the United States achieves a 100% clean energy economy and reaches net-zero emissions no later than 2050

Somewhat bold and with much to do given Donald Trump’s record when it comes to planetary issues, Joe Biden looks to touch the heartstrings of passionate young voters. Biden plans to invest $1.7 trillion into climate-related issues over ten years, with an intent to sign a series of aggressive executive orders on day one of his potential presidency that will ensure the United States tackles the climate emergency more effectively. 

And, Joe Biden will help to combat the astronomical college tuition fees…

■ Making four-year public colleges and universities tuition-free for all students whose family incomes are below $125,000

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