There were some things that came as no surprise. John Boehner burst into tears immediately and continued wet eyed through the entire presentation, which really goes a long way in showing the image of strength and determination we need to be presenting to our enemies. Obama, flanked by his two ever-present bodyguards/teleprompters, claimed that "The State of the Union is Strong!" to massive applause. There were non-political attendees, most notably MoH recipient SSG Giunta, easily the most badass American in the room...or the state...Likely on the East coast.
Other things broke with tradition. Republicans and Democrats sat intermingled in a
Overall, the speech was exactly what you'd expect on the campaign trail. A massive load of lofty ideals and empty generalities, with very little actual plan or substance.
For instance, he says we need to strengthen social security for the future...then says that we can't lower benefits, doesn't mention the retirement age, and forbids privatization...so basically the plan is to keep on exactly the way we are and hope for the best. What could go wrong?
The speech also made for an excellent game of "Finish that phrase!"
Obama: "...to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success." We should do this by...
If you said close loopholes so businesses have to pay more taxes, you're right! At least he also says we should use these "savings" (read: Higher tax receipts) to allow for a lowering of the corporate income tax rates.
Obama: "And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply cannot..."
Cannot...raise taxes on job creaters? Create an environment of uncertainty that will harm tax receipts of the future? Continue to spend outside of our Constitutional responsibilities? Not so much.
"...afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. Before we take money away from our schools, or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break.
It's not a matter of punishing their success. It's about promoting America's success."
That's right, you dirty millionaires. How come you get to keep all your money, huh? How is it fair that you get to spend the dollars you earned all by yourself however you want? Why should we allow you to invest in new jobs and stuff when the government could just take it and give it to poor people?
He also hammered about research. Specifically, how the good for nothing private sector free enterprise system doesn't spend enough on it because it isn't profitable, and how the government needs to step into the void.
There were a couple of benchmarks and drop dead statements he offered.
2026: 80% of Americans have access to high-speed rail.
2035: 80% of energy from clean sources (Viable solution: Existing nuclear technology, with construction beginning on all necessary plants in the next ten years so they can be completed by the given deadline. Solution offered: We should totally use wind turbines and solar power and ALIEN TECHNOLOGY AND STUFF!)
Promise: "If a bill comes across with earmarks, I will veto it." (Bold statement. Shelf life: Two weeks. Cue rationalization about how the new community action park in Chicago isn't really an earmark but an "investment")
He joked about the "rumors" that some people weren't happy with the healthcare law. He said he was eager to fix it. (Hey, maybe we ought to have read the law before we signed it?...Nah.) He is not, however, willing to go back to the days of pre-existing conditions. Which means that health insurance companies, which are in essence gambling entities, will continue to be forced to roll the dice on patients they know for a fact will end up losing them money. Of course, there's no way they'll spread that cost to the rest of us, making the entire system more expensive for everyone. Nope.
That's not to say there weren't good ideas tucked in there. Medical malpractice reform, the aforementioned corporate tax breaks, the posting of lobbyist meetings online...Unfortunately, while the speech was full of things about eliminating the debt, strengthening business, and slashing regulation, the specifics were all about spending more money, "investing" in green energy, and replacing slashed regulations with new ones.
The truly sad thing is the solution is so easy. The speech should have lasted all of ten minutes. It could've gone something like this.
"My fellow Americans, we are poised on the brink of a financial meltdown caused by the reckless spending of the past. No longer can the government spend more than it takes in, and no longer can it simply burden it's greatest earners in order to pay for entitlements and feel good programs.
No longer can the government decide what to spend, then figure out how to pay for it. Which is why, beginning this year, I propose that Congress determines a sensible, sustainable percentage of GDP that the government can spend annually. We will start with this number, and spend up to it, and not one dime more.
This will mean hard cuts and difficult choices. It will mean the a return of the Federal government to its Constitutional obligations and leave the rest to the States. It will mean the elimination of Social Security, Medicare, and other large programs that absorb greater than 50% of our budget every year.
We will destroy these programs with extreme prejudice. The difference between our current tax receipts and our new, much lower, operating budget will be spent on the Federal debt until we as a nation do not owe a nickel to any other power in the world. At that moment, the savings will be given back to the people who earned them. We, The People, will be allowed to drive the country again with the power of their purse.
The State of the Union today is precarious. Tomorrow, once we have fought through the hard times, it will be stronger than ever. God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America."
But what do I know?
