The 2014 SOTU Is Right On Time
As congress' approval rating sits at a stagnant 13 percent and as President Obama's approval rating dropped from the high 50's to 43 percent, last nights State of the Union Address seemed to be the magical elixir needed to boost the country's morale.
The Commander-in-Chief began his speech talking about real American stories, using real people as evidence to prove his claims about the Affordable Care Act and job creation. In his words, "The chamber speaks with one voice" and he did just that when he spoke about the plights of 98 percent of the country, while reminding Americans of the great progress his administration has had to date.
President Obama seemed to address every issue that Americans were crying out about; he spoke to opportunity for all that consisted of creating new jobs, early higher education, college for lower income families, lowered tax rates for businesses that keep jobs at home and with the revenue generated -- new construction jobs will be created, patent reform so that small businesses can concentrate on innovation and not costly or needless litigation, the closing of Guantanamo Bay, addressing the importance of climate change, equal pay for equal work, his plans to issue an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 an hour, voting rights and the issue with long waiting times, reforming of the surveillance program to better protect civilians privacy, our broken immigration reform, and he even took the time to call out Republicans on their inaction to extend long term unemployment benefits. It was as if the president wanted Americans to know that he hears us, that he's listening, and plans to initiate action on his own if necessary.
The president's speech was lighthearted in some instances, as he spoke to American exceptionalism when he pointed out current CEO's of corporations and cabinet members who came from humble beginnings.
He spoke to his own exceptionalism as the son of a single mother who now holds the highest office in the land, and he even used House Speaker John Boehner as an example of the son born to a barkeep -- in which Boehner, turned red in the face clearly bashful but proud as he received a standing ovation.
Then there were times when the president became stern and direct while holding steady glances towards the Republican section of the room, as he spoke to national security issues involving Iran and nuclear weapons. The president declared he'd work to create diplomacy with Iran, but only if the country is willing to work together and if not, more sanctions would be created as a means of protecting the American people.
Student and American workers were probably breathing a lot easier as the president proposed that only 10 percent of a person's income should be taken regarding the debt of student loans, and that workers will have access to MyRA which is a system put in place for them to save on their 401k in a new way. It would seem that this alternative feature for 401k's is an additional protection for Americans, who may be vulnerable to a vulture capitalistic system.
Moreover, one of the most touching moments of the evening was when President Obama spoke on the importance of veteran jobs and benefits and used the story of Cory Remsburg, a 10x deployed military officer who was struck down and nearly killed, but has since worked hard in rehabilitation to walk and speak again.
The entire room gave Cory and his dad Craig, what seemed
The SOTU address this year was more personal and even more deep than the last in which the president literally made you feel his words in a way that cut straight to the heart of humanity as he ended his speech stating, "If we summon what is best in us the way that Cory summoned what was best in him, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow, I know it is within our reach. Believe it."
2014 LA
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