State of the Union Address

The president gave a speech tonight. I thought it went pretty well. He didn't directly speak to the difficulties many Americans are experiencing, but he spoke to it by saying we needed this or that policy. He spoke about the American Dream and how it wasn't working as well as it should and how we needed policies or more effort to make it work better. In several ways he pointed to a future and a particular view of how America should be: equal pay for equal work and greater opportunity for upward mobility were the biggest mentions. He didn't criticize anyone for getting us into this situation and he didn't overly criticize his political opponents who have hindered his efforts. I liked the tone of the speech because of that and I liked that he pointed to specific issues where we need to see results, but without focusing so much on detail as to derail any effort before it begins. Legislators need flexibility when trying to find consensus and crafting bills. I think it was a speech which said government can help solve our problems, but without saying we must have 'big government'. I think it was a speech which was inclusive and most Americans can accept. Of course, the hashing out of specific legislation is where differences of opinion can be a problem. Republicans, particularly senators, have been awfully good at claiming to be for solutions to problems when they don't have to vote on it or when they can vote for something they know will never see the light of day in the House of Representatives. Getting Republicans to do anything besides a budget may require more miracles. So, the president's rhetoric may be designed as much to bring along the general public as much as declare an agenda or blueprint for the future. It was well-designed and well delivered.

I won't explain why I now wonder about the definitions of fore-front and fore-ground as a result of listening to commentators after the speech.

New Interesting Things Being Developed in America and Strange Things

America can be a terrific place with a lot of hard-working people creating amazing new things all the time.

http://www.businessinsider.com/this-group-wants-to-print-a-house-in-one-day-2013-12

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/27/3209961/2013-solar-jobs-census/

http://www.businessinsider.com/sugar-based-battery-developed-by-virginia-tech-2014-1

http://my.firedoglake.com/brucemcf/2014/01/26/sunday-train-the-solar-photovoltaic-price-evolution-revolution/


And then there are strange things which happen in America...

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/24/3198821/state-capitols-guns-flags/

http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18416-ten-examples-welfare-for-rich-and-corporations

TPP and the Republicans

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The president should consider offering TPP in exchange for other legislation. Pass immigration reform and tax reform and get one TPP signature. Pass immigration reform and a background-check-on-gun-purchases and gun-locks-in-homes-with-kids bills and get one TPP signature. Let the Republicans pick a la carte from among the things Dems want and make a deal. Liberals don't like TPP, so there's no real reason the president shouldn't 'get something for signing it'. Isn't that what the Republicans say about passing an increase in the debt limit? Goose, gander, and all that.