Why Climate Activists Should Rejoice in Exxon’s Infrastructure Win

If you’re only clicking on this heading out of confusion, don’t worry. I’m not going to claim that there is any substance in the legislation to celebrate. However, the Republicans who backed the bill with the intention of helping their corporate donors missed the bigger picture. Namely, their strategy.

Republicans have been using their time-tested, 3-part strategy with the Biden administration since it took office. They are openly attempting to make the country effectively ungovernable, blame it on the Democrats, and take back control of the executive branch.

A few GOP senators decided that lining Exxon’s pockets a little more is more important than sticking to their intended plan, and it may wind up costing them.

Why Passing the Bogus Infrastructure Bill Actually Matters

Whether you approve of President Biden or not as a progressive voter, you should be wishing him well in office right now. It’s unlikely that AOC or another leading progressive figure could run a successful primary campaign against him in 2024, even if his numbers continue to slip.

This means that you have two options; Biden or Trump.

If you even want to pretend to be on the left end of the spectrum, Biden is the clear and obvious favorite out of the two. Unfortunately, if the election were held right now, Trump would retake office.

Assuming that this infrastructure bill brings forth some new jobs, which it is predicted to do, and Biden is able to govern effectively at the executive level, his polling numbers should begin to see a rebound. That’s just in time.

The Midterms

If you don’t already understand what’s at stake in the midterms, allow me to spell it out for you. Everything.

Without a doubt, this election has the credentials to qualify as the most important election in history. COP26 will not be enough to save the planet without the United States transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050 or sooner.

In order to achieve that, the Republican Party has to be the minority. The party is divided on several issues but they are uniformly dedicated to environmental destruction, without a single exception in Congress.

With the Senate divided at 52–48 against serious climate proposals, the midterms have to be a victory for the Democrats. If not, the chances of limiting the worst effects of climate change are dwindling.

Biden needs all of the political momenta he can get. Even with this small victory in his pocket, it could be enough to see a successful rebound less than one year out from this critical election.