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What are your hopes for the new administration in Washington?

Hosted by: Imogen Foulkes

That’s what we’re discussing in our latest Inside Geneva podcast, and we’d like you to join in.

From climate change, human rights or global health, expectations are high that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will change the policy and tone we heard from President Trump. But are we too optimistic? And why do we still pay so much attention to what happens in the United States? 

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From the article Can Biden re-engage the US with the world?

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Anonymous
Anonymous

What you can expect of two incapable politicians? Nothing!

Giulianosiciliano
Giulianosiciliano

I think that the USA Italy migration policies need to be changed and the Netherlands 🇳🇱 based privileges in the USA should be terminated because it’s not our responsibility to keep helping the Americans out when they are so disrespectful to the migrants that built there country, I have 4 generations of Italian family who worked abroad in that country since 1840 but never migrated there .They helped build New York and San Francisco and this is not acknowledged in the history or by way of any favours by Joe Biden or Donald Trump, believe we did them a lot of favours and I believe that they are a selfish country that are not interested in cooperation with European citizens past or present We as EU citizens should not be involved or be interested in that countries future because it’s never been reciprocal with EU or southern Italy in150 years. we are not migrants of the USA and they are not immigrants in the EU so why are we worried about them , they never have any interests in helping EU countries that have helped them out and I think they need to be taught a lesson about Respect and global cooperation past present and future and if they can’t respect there past contributors how can we respect there future.....

makssiem
makssiem
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.

Personally, I don't respect this man for being served in Obama's custody, who spent 8 years at the White House without doing anything at all, ignoring everyone. But I trust the woman next to him who may assume the duties of president after his death. All the signs of death are drawn on his face, and this is another reason for not trusting him. It is someone who lives on steroids and close to the grave is eager to be president.. Cheap souls, dead ethics.

شخصيا لا أحترم هذا الرجل لكونه خدم في عهدة أوباما الذي أمضى 8 سنوات في البيت الابيض دون أن يفعل شيئا البتة مُهمِلاً الجميع. لكنني أثق في المرأة بجانبه التي قد تتولى مهام الرئاسة بعد موته، فكل علامات الموت مرسومة على وجهه، وهذا سبب آخر لعدم الثقة به. هو شخص يعيش على المنشطات وعلى مقربة من القبر متشوقا ليكون رئيسا.. نفوس رخيصة، وأخلاقيات ميتة.

avraham kimowo
avraham kimowo

no hope... they'll just do more bombings

Ursula Wolff
Ursula Wolff

I hope they keep up the aid programs. My husband is american. He was about to give up his citizenship because of the double tasxation. Now with all the money they are getting for families and many rural areas have big price drops in housing, we're preparing to move. I can get the US citizenship fairly easily and so can our 4 children.

We're now selling our two apartments in Zurich and Basel and preparing to move to Texas. With the money we can pay off the last remaining mortgage and still have huge tax deductions there when we start our dentists office. That's something we would never get in Switzerland and I can chose to work one day a week and still get the 2000 dollars they give people now twice a year.

Also because of the double taxation I will give up the Swiss citizenship. There is no need for it in the US.

makssiem
makssiem
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.

Mr. Biden was with Obama for 8 years, during which he did nothing but overnight at the White House. Why would the situation change this time? But the only good advantage is that we will get rid of his own lover Trump.

السيد بايدن كان في رفقة اوباما 8 سنوات لم يفعلا خلالها شيئا سوى المبيت في البيت الأبيض. * لماذا سيتغيّر الحال هذه المرة؟ الا أن الميزة الحسنة الوحيدة هي أننا سنتخلص من عاشق نفسه ترامب .

Anonymous
Anonymous
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.
@makssiem

Respectful opinion, but some may not agree that Obama and Biden have not done anything during the previous two sessions. The situation may change this time because the division in American society needs to be addressed quickly and strongly. After all, we'll see the results quickly.

رأي محترم لكن قد لا يُوافقك البعض في أن أوباما وبايدن لم يقوما بأي شيء خلال الدورتين السابقتين. الحال قد يتغير هذه المرة لأن الانقسام الذي يشهده المجتمع الأمريكي يحتاج إلى معالجة سريعة وقوية. على كل، سنرى النتائج بسرعة.

Peter b
Peter b

If Biden and Harris do get to lead a new administration in USA it will be bad not only for USA but the whole world. The stock market where I have some shares rose while there was good hope that the Trump administration would continue but was turned down when the Supreme Court refuse to hear a case about cheating (such as not allowing republican scrutineers the right to observe counting, more ballots than voters, boxes of ballots being pulled from under the table in view of cameras etc. Biden has the stupid policies of requiring everyone one to wear masks for 100 days, enhancing abortion, opening borders to aliens, mandating electric cars, reconnecting with the Paris agreement, appeasing the Chinese communist party, allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons, doing nothing about North Korea, non supporting UK but preferring the socialists in the EU. The Swiss have through their history preferred democracy and being conservative. I am sure the majority do not want China with a communist elite leader to dominate the world. That is what will occur with Harris who will push Biden aside

PASSERBY2
PASSERBY2

I hope Switzerland and Swiss get weaned of hoping that the U.S. president rides in on a white horse and sorts some problem. USA in the 2020s is mostly a regional power. It is no longer USA of the 1990s as the worlds only superpower. By the way, Swiss could be more proactive in reigning American corporations which dominate European markets too mach and pay too little taxes.

Bubikon
Bubikon

Do not underestimate Joseph Biden. He worked tirelessly with John Kerry and Barack Obama to attain the Iran Nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). The interim and final agreements would not have occurred without the participation of Geneva and Lausanne. Similarly his participation with Geneva and the United Nations in bringing about the end to the global economic crisis was legendary. In Barack Obama's new book he states that Joe Bidedn was always the last person he consulted about America's governance, including foreigh affairs. There are many more examples. Joe Biden will not necessarily press the reset button, but the ignorant mistakes of the Trump administration will be ended within the first few days. And Switzerland can expect more than a rich campaign donor who had little knowledge of Switzerland for the next Ambassador. uf Widerluege

max
max

A few indicators give us a general idea on what we can expect from Joe Biden. He wants to be the president for all Americans – thus maybe recognizing that he owes his victory partly to disgruntled republicans? By picking Janet Yellen for the treasury rather than Elizabeth Warren (totally discarded for any position) means being more business-friendly and less aggressive on taxes. Possibly until midterm elections, he will be less “visible” internationally because the country is the clear priority. Pragmatism, preferring dialog over confrontation. In essence, Biden has a reasonable plan. How much he will be able to achieve, also depends on the composition of the senate. On January 5, the Georgia ballot will determine whether it remains with republican majority or becomes 50-50.

Bubikon
Bubikon
@max

Not selecting Elizabeth Warren was a political decision rather than a policy decision. Unfortunately for Senator Warren and the United States, placing her on Biden's cabinet would open up her Senate seat immediately. Until the election of her successor, the Republican governor of Massachusetts would pick her successor. Given the balance of the Senate, America could not afford another Republican which would potentially guarantee Republican control of the Senate.

Anonymous
Anonymous
@Bubikon

Good luck in 2022

Anonymous
Anonymous

“From climate change, human rights or global health, expectations are high that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will change the policy and tone we heard from President Trump.”

All of that, but above all to see the end of the Trump & Family presidency.

gaz
gaz

Like virgin snow it will turn to water... not if just when and given the cock up they have made of it so far probably grey or black water.... good for not much

@gmh_upsa
@gmh_upsa

Yes: “What will the next four years hold for the US and indeed the whole world?... Biden’s election raises questions about... human rights, multilateralism, and the entire United Nations system” — Imogen Foulkes

but: “We are facing a disquieting present and an uncertain future to which there can be only one alternative: to build a better future.” — Michelle Bachelet Jeria

and: such future is available with the myth of creation of the Bright Globalización framework that’s comprehensive, simple, believable, and useful, as can be seen via my contributions to SWI’s stories ending with “What do you think of the results of Switzerland's vote on the Responsible Business Initiative?”

lucadevimo
lucadevimo

Why should we care? They can vote a cactus for president as far as I am concerned. We do not live there so it is as meaningless to my family as who is the prime minister of Britain, Australia or Germany.

Neep
Neep
@lucadevimo

While it is true that it can get tiring caring about every tiny move that USA, or other countries make. It is undeniable that the big players have wide-reaching impact on countries far beyond their borders.

While you feel that it does not affect you and your family that much, there will be those who are (especially in the English-speaking part of swissinfo I would guess). For one, I cannot see things like the election of Trump being disconnected from Brexit and other matters, and those do matter (to me).

andreavolem
andreavolem
@lucadevimo

I agree fully.
Anyway no politician has ever delivered what they promise in the campaigns so it makes even less sense to read news articles about one in the US.

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