Biden’s next four years

Text by MERWA MAROF and EMILY YAO

THE NEXT

LEFT-LEANING STUDENTS SHARE HOPES, PRIORITIES FOR BIDEN’S FUTURE PLANS

Biden’s win, yet disapproves of his politics. Biden’s environmental efforts She started the Leftist’s Club when she Biden has signed many exfelt like her views were not represent- ecutive orders that senior Emed at the broader Democrats Club. ilie Difede, co-founder of the “The Democrats do not repre- Environmental Justice Club, is sent the left at all,” Seah says. “To me, they’re just a moderate version of the right. They’re just not bold enough.” As an Asian member of the LGBTQ+ community, Seah realized that the standards of Democratic Party were very different than her own. She does not believe that the Democrats’ goals of compromising help protect the rights and safety of

STANDING AT THE TOP of the minorities. Capitol building steps, President “They [Democrats] always talk Joe Biden places his left hand on about having unity with Republicans,” his family’s bible and raises his Seah says. “But to me, I see that as imright hand, preparing to take the oath swearing him into the office of the president of the United States. With the presence of “A lot of people are going to pay less attention to what he possible, because why would I want to have unity with people who want to see me eradicated?” Seah’s largest conmasks and the absence of spectating crowds, does, even if what cern for the new presidency is that people Biden’s inauguration he’s doing is bad.” will overlook Biden’s proved to be a remark- actions, and not hold ably unconventional — MICHAELA SEAH, senior him and his admintransition of power. istration accountable

As Biden starts the way they have tohis presidential term, Verde reached out to wards Trump. select left-leaning student activists at Palo “Because he’s not Trump, a lot of Alto High School to explore their hopes for people are going to pay attention less to the years to come. what he does, even if what he’s doing is bad,” Seah says. “I’m scared that he’ll pass Problematic politicians something akin to the Patriot Act, where

Senior Michaela Seah was relieved by he expands the power of the FBI or CIA.”

Biden’s first executive actions

JAN 20

Signs 17 executive orders, including reversing the “Muslim Ban,” and stopping the U.S. from withdrawing from the World Health Organization.

JAN 21

Signs 11 executive orders including requiring masks mandates on public transportation, and expanding COVID-19 testing capacities.

JAN 22

Signs executive orders that facilitate delivery of stimulus payments, address COVID-19 economic relief and assist veterans with debt.

Art by SAMANTHA HO

FOUR YEARS

optimistic about for reigniting the fight against climate change. “I am hopeful that the Biden administration will begin to address environmental justice at the federal level,” Difede says. “The Biden administration understands that climate change poses an existential threat, not just to our environment, but to our health, our communities, our national security and ... economic well-being.” With that in mind, Difede believes Biden’s plans do not address the urgency of the climate crisis and wishes the Biden administration would reach for goals with more ambition. “The Biden administration plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050. However, this needs to happen faster,” Difede says. “We should be reaching net zero by 2030.” Along with expediting the timeline to the goal of net zero emissions, she believes Biden’s plan fails to include collaboration on an international scale, a component necessary to fight global warming.

“Climate change is a global problem that requires global action, not just action in the U.S.,” Difede says. “The U.S. needs to work with and encourage other major polluters like China and India to also drastically cut emissions.”

On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order that reentered the U.S. in the Paris Climate Accord, a global framework regarding lowering global warming.

Gazing into the future

While some are discontent with Biden’s current proposals, others like senior Rohin Ghosh have focused their attention further into the future, and worry that the Democratic Party will face challenges in holding onto their majority control in Congress.

“The only way to stop Democrats from losing in the midterms is to enact a fast policy that affects people’s lives,” Ghosh says.

As the policy director of the California High School Democrats, previous president of Paly Democrats club and co-founder of the Santa Clara County High School Democrats, Ghosh sees the importance of student involvement with issues in the city and our schools.

“I think it’s so vitally important that at every level of government, we as people, especially as students who can’t vote, do everything we can to keep and hold our government and elected officials accountable, because they answer to us,” Ghosh says. v

JAN 25

Signs executive order reversing transgender military ban and proclamation reinstating COVID-19 travel restrictions on Brazil and most of Europe.

JAN 26

Signs executive order to end the Justice Department`s use of private prisons and denounces anti-Asian and Pacific Islander discrimination and xenophobia.

JAN 27

Signs executive orders that pause new oil and gas leasing on U.S. land, and implements Climate Day Orders to tackle climate change.

JAN 28

Signs executive orders to reopen Obamacare marketplaces, lower recent barriers to joining Medicare and lift restrictions on abortion funding.