On the 21st January, 2014, the President will make his way to the Capitol to deliver his State of the Union address, as required by Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution. Traditionally, the speech sets out America’s position in the world, as well as domestically, and highlight’s the Executive’s agenda for the next twelve months. It would be sensational, downright fanciful, if Mr Obama did not predictably pander but really “told it as it is.”
“My Fellow Americans,
“In this year, the sixth of my presidency, I cannot tell you the state of our union is strong. While pretty well all my predecessors in this job have made this claim, how can I do so when our nation is so divided politically, economically and culturally? I know some of you would say our country is strong because we all want the same things for our people. But do we? Is there any real evidence of this? What the past five years have taught me is that we want the best for ourselves. It’s called enlightened self-interest.
“There are powerful vested interests, and a vast lobbying industry in support, close to the legislators of this nation. All seek self-advancement. Let me give you examples. The National Rifle Association wants to support its members. These people sell guns, all kinds of guns, automatic and semi-automatic weapons, some of which cost several thousand dollars. It is a Big Business. There have been far too many shooting atrocities during my presidency. Who can forget the children of Newtown, only a year ago? And the NRA response was, “arm the teachers.” When a member of this body was shot at point blank range, the NRA reaction was to suggest armed guards. What message is sent to our children and future legislators? Sadly, the Supreme Court, when given the opportunity to do something positive to limit citizens’ rights to own armed weapons has sat on its hands time after time. The Second Amendment is misconstrued time after time. The militia to which the Framers referred is now our armed forces!
“And Big Oil has upped its prices at the pumps. In many states, gas costs more than four bucks a gallon. One reason for the increase is simple economics, the law of supply and demand. Many more people in China, India and emerging nations now drive motor cars. People around the world are flying in increasing numbers. But why do the oil companies need tax breaks? It is outrageous for them to have such benefits at the taxpayer’s expense but my efforts to change the rules came to nothing as Congress rejected the proposals.
“Why does Congress support the NRA, Big Oil and other large institutions at the taxpayer’s expense? The answer is simplicity itself. The NRA, the oil industry and similar entities provide our legislators with financial support. You don’t bite the hand that feeds. What chance do hard-working American families have of getting a fair deal when their DC legislators are in the pay of special interests?
“Last month, your legislators here in Congress, in a rare show of bipartisanship, possibly encouraged by a risk of delay to their Christmas break, reached a budget compromise. The deal meant the sequester largely remains in place. I admit the sequester is ugly. It was one of those two things you never want to see made, a political deal. The other, by the way, is a sausage.
“The new budget means airline tickets will be more expensive, and the price of milk will rise, a tax on children. If you’re long-term unemployed, you’ll be on your own. It’s what my political opponents used to call “rugged individualism.” It’s what I call a life of hell. And if you’re a federal government employee, your pension could be cut, depending on age. And this last deal relates not just to civilians but to the armed forces too.
“Am I pleased with this budget? Of course I’m not but it was a political deal I had to take to keep the federal government open. And we’re not finished yet. Sometime in February/March, we face another government shutdown if the Debt Ceiling is not extended by Congress. I now look my political opponents in the eye. You can try to make political capital out of this issue but hear me clearly. I will not budge one inch. I demand a clear, unconditional increase to the Debt Ceiling so America can pay its debts as they fall due. May I remind those of you of the Tea Party persuasion, that many of these debts were incurred when a Republican occupied the White House?
“There are other domestic issues to cover. First is immigration. Last year, the Senate passed a measure that got nowhere in the House. May I remind you that The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act was a broad-based proposal for reforming the U.S. immigration system. The bill addressed all aspects of the immigration process from border and enforcement issues to legal immigration reforms. I call upon you legislators to look at narrower bills if you really must but let’s not declare war on people who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country, granted that these men and women are not properly documented. I want my administration to pass legislation to help immigrants who have played the game and deserve legitimation.
“Second is healthcare. The new Affordable Healthcare Act was passed by a majority in Congress and approved by the Supreme Court. It is now the law of this country and should be accepted as such. The attacks through the back door made on it by my extreme political opponents are to be deplored. Don’t use the Debt Ceiling to try to get your way on other laws. Instead, be democratic. By all means, debate the issue in the forthcoming mid-terms. If you win a majority in both Houses, so be it but I will veto any change in the law that seeks to deny our poorer citizens access to affordable healthcare. Why do I say this? Simply, it is the right thing to do.
“The third issue is interest rates. The economy is showing clear signs of improvement and there will soon be pressure to raise rates to keep inflation under control. The nation’s savers have had to bear the brunt of low rates for too long and it is time they caught a break. However, a rise in rates will hurt working families who are buying their homes with the benefit of a mortgage. If rates rise, I will ask Congress to pass a law protecting from foreclosure for a reasonable period those people who invested more than 20% of their own money in their homes.
“Upward movements of interest rates will not be limited to USA. We live and work in a global world and all G20 countries will be affected. This brings me to considering America’s place in the world and our leadership. You cannot expect me to lead if Congress constantly cuts the ground from under me. Just a few weeks ago, the Assad regime in Syria used chemical weapons on its own citizens, a heinous crime. This administration stood ready to punish the government of Syria for this atrocity. Congress got cold feet and there was inadequate political will to support the executive. How can you people, sitting in these rows in front of me, expect America to show leadership when you act so cowardly? The Middle East Spring of two years ago seems to have descended into winter. Civil wars, oppressive regimes pervade a sense of hopelessness.
“Surely, these are instances where the United Nations should lead but it has become a toothless body. I want to confer with the leadership of both sides of the aisle as to whether the USA should serve notice to the UN to act as required by its charter or find another home. I am fed up with diplomats’ parking tickets and other petty abuses of our system of government while they line their pockets with American dollars provided by our taxpayers, as they act against the interests of those oppressed for purely political reasons.
“We are in a very different world now to that which I found in 2009. Last year, Secretary of State Kerry negotiated a deal whereby Iran could be welcomed back into the fold of lawful nations. Predictably, some nations including Israel, as well as several members of this body, shouted and screamed at the terms agreed. What they failed to do was read the agreement. It is a process and nothing will be given away until Iran has met its side of the bargain.
America must change its way of doing business in the world and lead in a series of coalitions with other nations to achieve peace. This will be at the forefront of John Kerry’s policies for the rest of my presidency. That said, we should try the same medicine at home. I call upon all legislators in this body to act in the interest of all Americans, not just those who voted for them. Let’s become truly bipartisan, to fulfil the dreams of the Founding Fathers.”
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