Politics class: Biden touts ‘Bidenomics’ as antidote to failed trickle-down policies

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Specification:

• Edexcel Component 3, Section 5.2: The key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican Parties

• AQA Component 3.2, Section 3.2.1.6: Political parties: the ideological changes in both the Democratic and Republican parties making them more distinct and polarised

Background: what you need to know

As part of his bid for re-election in 2024, President Biden is seeking to highlight his administration’s policy successes. ‘Bidenomics’ is a recently coined term, meaning large-scale federal investment in green energy, infrastructure and other areas.

Biden has attacked the Republicans for espousing ‘trickle-down economics’ — the neoliberal belief that deregulation and tax cuts for affluent members of society produce benefits for the less well-off. This exemplifies the way in which the two main US parties have moved further apart in terms of policy.

Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:

Biden touts ‘Bidenomics’ as antidote to failed trickle-down policies

Question in the style of AQA Politics Paper 2

• Explain and analyse three ways in which US party politics has become increasingly polarised in recent years. [9 marks]

Question in the style of Edexcel Politics Paper 3A

• Evaluate the view that the policies of the Republican and Democrat Parties have become increasingly opposed.

  You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way. [30 marks]

  TIP: The article focuses on the economy. You should also be able to explain the two parties’ contrasting positions on, for example, welfare policy and social and moral issues such as abortion and gun control. If you are answering the question which requires evaluation, can you find any areas of common ground between Democrats and Republicans?

Graham Goodlad, Portsmouth High School