Vote for a Leader, Vote for Biden — Fourth in a Series

America has successfully solved national problems and advanced our democracy from the beginning. The challenges have included:

• managing the economy,
• improving race relations,
• protecting citizens from poverty and lack of health insurance,
• curing diseases,
• rebuilding European countries after World War II,
• expanding voting rights,
• protecting reproductive health care.

History tells us that our presidents have been leaders in these areas. Faced with the horror of slavery, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and shepherded the passage of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution which abolished slavery in 1865.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created financial relief mechanisms for Americans, including jobs and unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits for seniors during the Depression, and the GI Bill in 1944 for returning World War II veterans.

Science and technology took off with President Eisenhower’s creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958, and his establishment of the Interstate Highway System in 1955, paving the way for the future.

President Lyndon Johnson championed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which continues to protect Americans’ rights today. His legacy includes the War on Poverty, which reduced poverty in America by half.

President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 to protect human and environmental health, followed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect the safety of our workers.

In 2010, more than 40 million additional Americans received health insurance because of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

These are examples of strong leaders. They had the courage and skills to meet America’s challenges. Regardless of party, presidents have successfully solved problems for centuries while maintaining our democracy. It is up to us, as voters, to select the next leader who will have the courage to support Ukraine in its efforts to resist Russia’s military aggression, find balance at our southern border, and maintain our democracy.

President Biden continues to show that our government can work for all Americans. During the last three years, his administration has passed legislation to invest trillions of dollars to support our country. Stabilize the economy. Rebuild roads and bridges. Expand health insurance. Lower drug prices. Combat climate change. Bring computer chip production back to the US. Protect women from violence. Expand safety laws for firearms, the #1 cause of death for children in America. Defend reproductive freedoms.

In 2021, Newburyport received $5.4 million from Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. About half of this money went to improve streets and sidewalks.

Biden has proven himself a leader of the free world. His ability to cooperate with a divided Congress has led to the passage of critical budgets, management of our debt, and financial support for countries at risk.

While Biden has put his energy into improving the country, his opponents have used fear and lies to divide us, create chaos, and take away our freedoms. Many Americans feel uncertainty. Will Social Security remain viable? Will housing become more affordable? Will reproductive rights be available to women in the future?

Democrats believe that individual people and government have the power to work together to achieve America’s promise of democracy and prosperity. “Government of, by and for the people” is a future only you can ensure by voting.

By Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Newburyport, Kathy Pasquina, Newburyport and Patricia Skibbee, West Newbury 5/22/2024