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5 Bests And Worsts Of The State Of The Union

Kevin Litman-Navarro |
January 28, 2014 | 10:17 p.m. PST

Contributor

(Pete Souza, Wikimedia Commons)
(Pete Souza, Wikimedia Commons)

Tuesday night, Obama delivered the 2014 State of the Union Address. Here are some of the more memorable moments:

Best 

1. “For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the federal government. It’s an important debate – one that dates back to our very founding. But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy – when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States – then we are not doing right by the American people.”

Obama addressed the government shutdown that held hostage billions of dollars of funding for over two weeks, noting that it is a failure to the people to allow such a stalemate to last so long. Instead of pointing the finger at his Republican adversaries, the President condemned the inability to compromise on both sides of the aisle; a diplomatic move, Mr. President.

2. “Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by – let alone get ahead.”

Income inequality is one of the most important issues faced by the United States today. As wealth disparity increases, it is imperative that we continue to discuss the problems caused by inequality and socioeconomic class rigidity; good job by Obama of appealing to the middle class and showing his commitment to fixing the unprecedented wealth gap present in modern society.

SEE ALSO: Obama's Take On Current State Of Economy

3. “Some require Congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still – and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”

President Obama has finally decided to exercise executive authority in the absence of Congressional progress. In doing so, he claims more responsibility and accountability for the progress of his administration. Move past the promises, move past the rhetoric; the actions of the Obama Administration will now be judged the executive action taken by the president when Congress is mired in partisan disagreement.

4. “It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a "Mad Men" episode.”

Well said, Mr. President. Referring to gender inequality in the workplace, Obama indicated that he will do everything in his power to ensure that women will earn equal pay for equal work and be given every opportunity enjoyed by their male counterparts.

5. “But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people … Congress, give these hardworking, responsible Americans that chance.”

President Obama relayed the heartfelt story of Misty DeMars, a recently unemployed woman who has worked her entire life under the promise of the “American Dream” only to be laid off, and find herself abandoned by the government. His delivery of this story highlighted an important theme: the great majority of people on unemployment are not takers, they are not lazy. They are victims of circumstance who have fallen upon hard times.  Great job by Obama defending vulnerable citizens who have been under personal attack by so many politicians.

Worst 

(Chuck Kennedy, Wikimedia Commons)
(Chuck Kennedy, Wikimedia Commons)

1. “They believe, and I believe, that here in America, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams … It’s how the daughter of a factory worker is CEO of America’s largest automaker; how the son of a barkeeper is Speaker of the House; how the son of a single mom can be President of the greatest nation on Earth.” 

Obama raises a good point, pointing to the “American Dream” and claiming that success should be a function of hard work and not circumstance. However, in choosing examples of the “American Dream” realized, the President focused on exceptional cases at the risk of further marginalizing the people who are actually disadvantaged and work their whole lives without any semblance of social mobility. For every President Obama, there are tens of thousands born into poverty with little to no chance of bettering their socioeconomic circumstances (regardless of how hard they work, or how big they dream), and pretending that everyone has the opportunity that he did is insulting.

2. “And we did all this while adding years to Medicare’s finances, keeping Medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors.”

While many of Obama’s healthcare policies are already helping citizens across the nation, there is a profound misunderstanding of the major problem with our healthcare system. Instead of focusing on premiums and budgets (which are still important, but to a lesser degree), Obamacare should force prescription drug companies to lower costs. In patenting their drugs, they create enormous profit margins (there is no competition for their exact drug) and create the rising costs of healthcare.

SEE ALSO: College Republicans And Democrats On Obama's State Of The Union

3. “Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day … I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters, shopping malls, or schools like Sandy Hook.”

While President Obama’s promise to increase gun control “with or without Congress” is noble, the lack of focus on such an important issue is disturbing. There were three shootings and two lockdowns on school campuses in the past week alone, and the President should be doing more to raise awareness of a growing problem and enact legislation to protect the people of the United States.  Last State of the Union, Obama delivered an impassioned speech on the need for gun control legislation; a year has passed and we have yet to see any progress.

4. “And with the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.”

How many times have we heard President Obama claim that this is the year to close GitMo? Enough said.

SEE ALSO: 44 Stats About Our 44th President's State Of The Union

5.“As Commander-in-Chief, I have used force when needed to protect the American people, and I will never hesitate to do so as long as I hold this office. But I will not send our troops into harm’s way unless it’s truly necessary.”

This statement opened President Obama up to countless criticisms about the use of drones in overseas missions.  The ACLU and Human Rights Watch will certainly take issue with the policy implied by the President.


Reach Contributor Kevin Litman-Navarro here.



 

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