The past few weeks have seen yet another back and forth between Democrats and Republicans over aid to Ukraine, with the latter blocking it unless their counterparts assure funding to address the immigration crisis. As usual, they came to a compromise that secures more financial aid for Ukraine in the amount of $300 million dollars. With the latest aid package, the total amount of financial assistance to Kiev is up to $76.6 billion dollars, a staggering amount in its own right, but even more significant given the current state of conditions for working class Americans. 

While the sanctions that Biden claimed would bring the “Ruble to rubble” have not played out like he thought they would, it is the global standing of the dollar and more importantly the lives of working Americans that have been negatively impacted. As we near the end of Joe Biden’s presidency, let us analyze just how the decisions (and lack thereof) of the current president have hurt Americans. 

Ukraine

When Russia’s Special Military Operation began in February 2022, there was bipartisan support among politicians and voters alike for aid to Ukraine. Fast forward two years later, and many are feeling that the United States has neglected its own people in favor of Ukraine. The consequences were felt immediately following the sanctions which blocked off the EU and United States from purchasing Russian natural gas and oil. Although the United States was not a significant purchaser of Russian resources, the global market was interrupted to the extent that it negatively impacted American gas prices. Retail gasoline prices rose to an all-time high, rising above a five dollar national average for the first time in history. Prices surged above six dollars in Los Angeles County, prompting angry Angelinos to protest outside various gas stations. 

But while average people struggled to fill their gas tanks, oil companies celebrated the spike in prices, enjoying record high profits during this time. Marathon Petroleum disclosed earnings of $4.5 billion, marking a sixfold increase compared to the previous year. Phillips 66 reported earnings of nearly $5.5 billion, a substantial jump of 13 times over last year's $402 million. BP achieved its second-highest quarterly profit ever, reporting $8.2 billion. Exxon posted its highest-ever quarterly profit at $19.7 billion, while Chevron reported earnings of $11.2 billion, the second-highest quarterly profit in their history.

The Biden administration consciously chose to fund a proxy war to the delight of corrupt politicians and weapons contractors, taking no heed of the detriment it would bring to the American people. Even more insulting was Biden's bragging about how great the economy was, and deeming “Bidenomics” a success. Only a president with dementia would throw vast amounts of money to a conflict with no hope of winning, while his own people struggle with no plan in place to provide aid to mitigate the consequences of sanctioning Russia. Bidenomics apparently only analyzes the state of oil companies as their unit of measurement, as any other factor would indicate a suffering populace. 

Immigration Crisis

Another challenge faced by the Biden administration during his presidency is the border crisis between the United States and Mexico. Conservative commentators across various media platforms frequently showcase videos and images of individuals crossing the border, often discussing the provision of debit cards and free healthcare to immigrants, among other benefits. Meanwhile, Democrats and other factions falsely labeled as "left" either downplay the issue or argue that it represents a net positive, disregarding the administration's struggles in meeting the needs of existing residents. While numerous outlets have explored the economic impacts of immigration, there seems to be a significant oversight regarding another crucial aspect.

Instead of criticizing this government that allows for mass border crossings and the further deepening of a crisis that is creating tension among working people, average Americans on both sides of the political spectrum seem to miss the point in the fruitless discourse of “Right vs. Left”. These tensions must be turned into a working class movement, but, alas, are simply continuing to add fuel to the fire of the already hostile political paradigm of the United States.

Democratic support for allowing unbridled immigration allows the Right-wing to add credibility to the conservative fear of “Cultural Marxism”, the supposed end goal of the “leftists” being a society devoid of any cultural traditions and abolition of national borders. Likewise, the Democratic Party uses their counterparts' requests for tightened border security as proof they are “racist neo-Nazis” who are one step away from taking away all of our freedoms. The impact of the immigration crisis on working class Americans goes beyond economic effects - it is also acting as a barrier to the emergence of class conscience growing among American workers, distracting them from realizing who the true class enemy really is.

Incompetence of the Biden Administration

The previous two years have completely wiped away any sense of credibility of political competence for President Joe Biden. In two short years, American working class people have faced a recession met with skyrocketing inflation, he has brought us into wars in Ukraine and outright support for genocide in Gaza. “Build Back Better” has not yet delivered on improving the infrastructure, and people continue to feel economic pressure at the fuel pump and grocery store. The Biden administration's handling of critical issues like the Ukraine crisis and immigration reveals a pattern of incompetence. From neglecting the needs of working-class Americans to pursuing misguided foreign policies, their actions have only exacerbated existing problems. As economic hardships persist and political polarization deepens, it becomes increasingly evident that effective leadership is sorely lacking in the current administration.