Since we are starting over again, with a new year and a new strain of Covid, I decided it is time to start writing again.

I have been disappointed in the failure of the Biden administration to communicate effectively or act competently when faced with large problems like the withdrawal from Afghanistan or handling the border or even putting people in place to operate government agencies. When they pass important legislation or offer new ideas, they fail to explain them well or even in a time sequence that is in keeping with Politics 101. They should be sued for political malpractice.

At the same time, the Republicans are hopelessly tied to Trump and even the few remaining “real” conservatives are lost in the whirlwind of false election fraud claims or whitewashing the January 6th attempt to seize the constitutional process in spite of the consequences.

I do have some advice for how Biden turns things around.

First, he should announce he will not run for re-election. In the Washington world this makes him a lame duck. In the real world it allows him to act without worrying about the next election which most of us would welcome.

Second, he should propose a bill to be considered under the Reconciliation process which would raise more money than it would spend, increase the corporate tax rate, add a billionaires tax, eliminate carried interest, and limit the amount that can be used for stepped-up basis on inherited wealth. With this, you could keep the child credit allowance, offer universal pre-k, and fund some environmental programs. Let the deficit hawks deal with a bill that reduces the deficit.

Third, he should embrace a version of the Romney child credit tax plan and include it in the above.

Fourth, he should huddle with Manchin and others to make the filibuster a “talking” one again. Let’s see how many nights Ted Cruz wants to keep talking.

Fifth and finally, he should take all of the money for Kentucky needed after the storms and put it with the Reconciliation bill. He can call it the “Merrick Garland Paybacks are Hell” bill.

Now that might make people think twice about trying to stop anything they don’t like with whatever power they have at the moment.