Joe Manchin’s refusal so far to sign onto Biden’s reconciliation bill blocks the passage of transfomative legislation that breaks from the old governing orthodoxy of the past 40 years. It would, if passed, make the lives of tens of millions much easier as well as address climate issues and much else.
On the other hand, if it doesn’t make it through Congress, the political, not to mention economic, fallout could be severe if tens of millions come to believe that democracy and democratic governance can’t “deliver.” And thus not worth defending.
