Biden’s Unfathomable Choice of Tiny Westby, WI: A Desperate Grasp at Relevance?

Joe Biden, the current president, is making a trip to the westernmost part of Wisconsin as a part of his showcase on the investments made by his administration towards manufacturing and infrastructure. This is, quite interestingly, the first time he’s visiting the state since he abruptly left the presidential race.

His primary agenda appears to be the announcement of an astonishing $7.3 billion in funding destined for the electrification of rural America. It’s peculiar to note that this is touted as the most significant financial influx towards such an initiative since the 1930s.

The injection of this huge amount is expected to affect rural regions of Wisconsin and an additional 22 states across the US. An aspect of the Inflation Reduction Act, the New ERA program, seems to be the primary contributing factor for these funds.

Historically, the Rural Electrification Act, brought into existence by President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1936, was believed to have been the last big push towards rural electrification. The current administration, however, seems to believe otherwise and presents their recent effort as monumental.

This Tuesday, Biden proudly claimed the ‘success’ of his ‘Investing in America’ infrastructure initiative. The rather curious point here is the boastful claim about setting multiple records across the board, including purportedly facilitating the creation of 16 million job opportunities, supporting small business growth, and even influencing the stock market.

Biden’s energy platform, according to him, seems to be the protagonist behind these vast strides. Milwaukee has been politically heating up this summer, yet in a strange turn of events, our attention is being diverted towards a small city in Wisconsin.

Westby, a city nested snug in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin such as houses around 2,300 inhabitants, is about to bask in national attention. This strange choice of destination for a President who’s mostly seen focusing on bigger cities sparks a lot of intrigue.

The impending event in Westby holds even more significance, given that it’s been precisely two months since Biden’s last foray into Wisconsin. The last visit, a reminiscent of his campaign days, was an early July rally held in the Madison area.

The city’s location within Vernon County puts it near the borderline of Wisconsin’s west. It’s interesting to note that Westby is actually in closer proximity to La Crosse, which is approximately 30 miles away.

La Crosse is notably recognized as the spot where former president Donald Trump recently hosted a lively town hall session. How will Biden’s visit echo what happened during that earnest discussion between a former leader and the people?

Due to its geographical proximity to La Crosse, the residents of Westby could easily be part of the demographic that attended Trump’s town hall. With the current political climate, will this proximity create friction or serve as an advantage for the present administration’s initiatives?

Further, the choice of Westby as the focal point raises questions about whether Biden is trying to reshape his narrative. A town with a predominantly rural setting and a small population, could it be that Biden is seeking political redemption in places where his sway has been historically low?

Despite heavy funding and loud declarations from Biden, we must continually question the effectiveness of such a grandiose electrification plan. Will it have a tangible impact on rural America, or is it another grand political gesture with minuscule actual impact?

We can only wait to see how the narrative unfolds. As Vice President Kamala Harris stands beside Biden in his endeavors, her silence on these issues is also concerning.

Are they merely trying to deflect from previous, more substantial criticisms on their administration? And if so, does this not speak volumes about the diplomatic tactics this administration deems appropriate to deploy?

In the end, the effectiveness of these plans remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the choice of location for these announcements, coupled with conspicuous silence on substantial issues, calls for careful scrutiny of Biden’s administration, his assertions, and the actual results they yield.