President Obama will deliver the annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress from the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 25, 2001 at 9:00 p.m.
The address gives Mr. Obama an opportunity to not only report on the condition of the nation, but also outline his legislative agenda and priorities to Congress and the American people.
Many expect the president will place a lot of emphasis on job creation and relatedly, targeted investments in education, innovation and infrastructure in order to enhance America’s competitiveness in the global economy.
But Mr. Obama must also set out an agenda within the framework of reducing America’s massive debt which currently stands at close to $14 trillion. This said, he is unlikely to support raising the Social Security retirement age or reducing its benefits.
Republicans have been saying, even before Mr. Obama speaks, investments in education, innovation and infrastructure, are unnecessary and just another means to make government bigger and increase federal spending.
This short-sighted thinking on the part of the GOP, is surely not the way for America to “win the future”.
But, hey, be careful what you wish for!
And, let’s hope that Mr. Obama remembers the 99ers or “long-term unemployed” of which there are now 1.4 million, according to the Congressional Research Service.
It will take far more than Dems sitting with Republicans and vice versa tonight, and calls for greater civility in the political discourse, to change the outlook for the vast majority of Americans who have seen their lives upended.
The question remains, can Mr. Obama help America win the future?
