One of the first things that incoming United States administrations tend to learn is the difference between campaigning and governing. Candidates spin out proposals and position papers, but once in power, implementing even a fraction of them becomes a near Herculean task.

Of course, given Joe Biden’s long career in Washington, including eight years as vice-president, this hardly comes as a surprise to him. Moreover, his first major legislative initiative in the form of a large fiscal package sailed through Congress in record time.