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Opinion
resident Obama ended his State of the Union address with:
“One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden…Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other's backs… As long as we're joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.”
Obama has been asking Republicans to work with him since taking office. His own base is irritated by his moves to the right. Yet legislators like Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) stick fingers in their ears rather than listen to any proposals. It is an election year. Republicans aren't going to do anything Obama proposes, even if it is the right thing for the nation.
Sadly, we no longer have “common purpose” and “common resolve.” Good policy proposals in the SOTU will be ignored, despite a vision of America that is full of hope:
“Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we're in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren't so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.”
There is increasing income inequality, exasperated by manufacturing jobs disappearing and jobs eliminated because of efficiencies gained by advances in technology. After decades of wage stagnation, Americans used their home equity like a debit card desperately maintaining the fantasy of getting ahead. When the financial house of cards tumbled down, Americans were crushed under the weight of heavy debt loads, and no longer had jobs to pull them out of the debris. But Wall Street got bailed out and kept both their cash and their profits without consequence. Obama promised to investigate past and prevent future financial abuse.
Envisioning an America where manufacturing regains prominence, the president demonstrated how lessons learned by saving the American automobile industry can be applied to a resurgence in the manufacturing sector. He challenged business leaders to bring jobs back to America and promised that America would help them succeed by fixing corporate tax codes. It should not be advantageous to move profit and jobs overseas.
A proposal that multinational corporations pay a “basic minimum tax” would be offset with a reduction in taxes for companies bringing jobs to America. He proposed tax breaks for manufacturing companies, if they located in communities and factories that had been vacant and on a downward economic spiral.
He described plans to aggressively investigate unfair trade practices in competing countries like China. Coupled with using international laws to level the playing field for American companies and their workers, he challenged Congress to “make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing finance or new markets.”
He asked for a “national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job.” This is something that was proposed in the American Jobs Act and ignored by Congress despite people in cities across America chanting “Pass This Bill.” In order to train workers for the jobs of tomorrow we need to stop bashing teachers and start recognizing their value to society. Obama also proposed ways to make college more affordable for the children of the working class and accessible to children of immigrants by passing the Dream Act.
He challenged Congress to open 75% of Americas' oil reserves, and to invest in energies of the future. This isn't a man who is opposed to developing shale oil and natural gas. But he is opposed to wild speculation by Wall Street. He wants to see the Peace Dividend promised by Reagan. That's hope worthy of Congressional support.
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Claudette Konola believes the future could be so bright that we'll have to wear shades, if only the GOP would get out of the way. She blogs at www.konola4colorado.com and can be reached at Konola@Bresnan.net.
“One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden…Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other's backs… As long as we're joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.”
Obama has been asking Republicans to work with him since taking office. His own base is irritated by his moves to the right. Yet legislators like Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) stick fingers in their ears rather than listen to any proposals. It is an election year. Republicans aren't going to do anything Obama proposes, even if it is the right thing for the nation.
Sadly, we no longer have “common purpose” and “common resolve.” Good policy proposals in the SOTU will be ignored, despite a vision of America that is full of hope:
“Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we're in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren't so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.”
There is increasing income inequality, exasperated by manufacturing jobs disappearing and jobs eliminated because of efficiencies gained by advances in technology. After decades of wage stagnation, Americans used their home equity like a debit card desperately maintaining the fantasy of getting ahead. When the financial house of cards tumbled down, Americans were crushed under the weight of heavy debt loads, and no longer had jobs to pull them out of the debris. But Wall Street got bailed out and kept both their cash and their profits without consequence. Obama promised to investigate past and prevent future financial abuse.
Envisioning an America where manufacturing regains prominence, the president demonstrated how lessons learned by saving the American automobile industry can be applied to a resurgence in the manufacturing sector. He challenged business leaders to bring jobs back to America and promised that America would help them succeed by fixing corporate tax codes. It should not be advantageous to move profit and jobs overseas.
A proposal that multinational corporations pay a “basic minimum tax” would be offset with a reduction in taxes for companies bringing jobs to America. He proposed tax breaks for manufacturing companies, if they located in communities and factories that had been vacant and on a downward economic spiral.
He described plans to aggressively investigate unfair trade practices in competing countries like China. Coupled with using international laws to level the playing field for American companies and their workers, he challenged Congress to “make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing finance or new markets.”
He asked for a “national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job.” This is something that was proposed in the American Jobs Act and ignored by Congress despite people in cities across America chanting “Pass This Bill.” In order to train workers for the jobs of tomorrow we need to stop bashing teachers and start recognizing their value to society. Obama also proposed ways to make college more affordable for the children of the working class and accessible to children of immigrants by passing the Dream Act.
He challenged Congress to open 75% of Americas' oil reserves, and to invest in energies of the future. This isn't a man who is opposed to developing shale oil and natural gas. But he is opposed to wild speculation by Wall Street. He wants to see the Peace Dividend promised by Reagan. That's hope worthy of Congressional support.
--------------------
Claudette Konola believes the future could be so bright that we'll have to wear shades, if only the GOP would get out of the way. She blogs at www.konola4colorado.com and can be reached at Konola@Bresnan.net.
