Striking an optimistic — and realistic –tone, President Barack Obama devoted his final State of the Union speech as a visionary prescription plan of sorts on how to address significant economic and national security issues in a way that’s effective, fair and doesn’t diminish the nation’s standing.
He spoke about the ever-evolving economy that while effective in creating jobs, has also shed a lot of middle-class jobs in the U. S. that moved overseas or became automated. Still, he said this wasn’t a sign that America was losing its standing, adding that anyone who makes such a claim is “peddling fiction.”
This megatrend is bound to continue, if not gain speed.
“The pace of this change will only accelerate,” he said.
He quoted Abraham Lincoln, saying “We did not adhere to the dogmas of the quiet past.” Instead, Obama said the “(American people) made change work for us. We emerged stronger and better than before.
What was true then can be true now.”
He said the American people have overcome great challenges before because of a strong work ethic and a zest for discovery. It’s because of the hard work and innovation that the country was able to accomplish much during his eight years as president. They include helping end the Great Recession, the creation of 14 million private sector jobs, more clean energy technology, support for laws allowing same sex marriage in several states, and adoption of the Affordable Care Act that helped provide medical insurance to some 18 million Americans.
Still, he said more needs to be done to help people climb the economic mountains, make college more affordable and enable people to retire with sufficient savings. On the last item, Obama stressed the need to strengthen, and not weaken, Social Security and Medicare.
He reiterated that powerful corporations and investment banks have only been enabled by Congress to make decisions that have put ordinary Americans in peril while the wealthy peoples prospered even more.
“Food stamp recipients did not cause the financial crisis, recklessness did,” he said.
“It’s not families watching tonight that avoid paying taxes through offshore accounts.”
Foreign Policy
On foreign policy, Obama said the United States cannot afford to be isolationist nor a nation-building policeman.
He said wars the United States have gotten involved in recent history bore this out.
“We can’t rebuild every country. It’s a recipe for quagmire that ultimately will weaken us,” Obama said. “It’s the lesson of Vietnam. It’s the lesson of Iraq … We should have learned it by now.”
Obama said a patient and disciplined strategy is needed in approaching the Middle East and other areas of the world that see seismic changes. He gave the example of the nuclear deal with Iran and lifting travel restrictions from long-embargoed Cuba as examples. The president made no mention of the 10 American sailors arrested by Iran today after their boats travelled through the Persian Gulf. Their current state is unknown.
He dismissed the claims from some (a not so –veiled reference to Republican presidential candidates) that the United States has been weakened among the community of nations.
“The United States of America is the most powerful nation on earth…period,” he said to applause, adding that the world nations call on the U.S. for assistance first and foremost.
While the enemy has morphed from evil empires to failing states, he cautioned people to not exaggerate the degree of the threat. He referred to ISIS a bunch of “fighters stacked behind pickup trucks.”
“They do not threaten our national security,” he said. “That’s the story ISIS wants to tell. We do not need to build them up.”
Obama said a disciplined military approach is being taken in addressing Syria, where a civil war that has been taking place since 2011 has taken nearly 300,000 lives.
Obama has been criticized for not doing enough to stanch the bloodshed and overreliance on airstrikes, of which there have been 10,000.
If members of Congress want America to take a more aggressive role, Obama made a suggestion: “Take a vote” to authorize the use of military force.”
He slammed the suggestion that he wasn’t committed to fighting terrorism.
“Just ask Osama bin laden.”
Bipartisanship
He admitted that the rancor and suspicion has gotten worse since he was first elected president in 2008. He hoped in his remaining months, there can be more cooperation to get things done.
“This can’t be my task alone.”
But he said citizens need to play a more active role to change the political tone in the nation.
“If we want a better politics, it is not enough to change (elected officials),” he said. “We have to change the system to reflect our better selves.”
He said politicians can do their part by adopting true campaign finance reform redistricting Congressional districts in a way that avoids gerrymandering.
Regardless of the challenges of making the country more equitable, wealthier and educated and safer, the president believed the people will succeed.
“I believe in change because I believe in you.”
As his last SOTU, Obama, admitting the great difficulty he has had with gaining legislative accomplishments, did not lay out any policy proposals on issues dear to him. Still, he said he hoped to see progress in the near future on hiking the minimum wage, pay equity, and free community college for the first two years.
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