Protectionism invokes retaliatory responses from trading partners who then all engage in one-upmanship. That stifles trade. Exports suffer. Protectionism also makes the "protected" domestic industries less competitive on the world stage, not unlike rewarding bad behavior. See how that works?
What I heard was .... Bank bailouts....emphasis on "more prop money" needed Auto bailouts....emphasis on domestic manufacturing Wall Street ....increased regulation House Mortgage bailouts Energy....Making alts competitive with carbon taxes Education....performance rewards....general improvements Medicine ....electronic records Tax Increases on Small Business Owners Social security cognizance.... More tax money is going to be needed ...................................................................... Thus the esssence of the speech was bigger government and a relatively smaller private business segment.... ..................................................................... Banks....Why not reward those have done well by serving them with the best parts of the failed ? Autos....Foreign companies have won on US soil....hiring US workers....Their model succeeded and should be rewarded.... Wall Street....deserves more "smart" not vigilant regulation.... House bailouts to the most deserving....If an individual is not bright enough to understand the most significant purchase in one's lifetime....what does this suggest ? Energy....The only way for alts to win via price is to make sure that oil based energy stays just as expensive via rules.... Education....performance based....very intriquing....but costs need to be dramatically reduced....the only method for this is via the internet.... Medicine....any significant addition to efficiency that will lower costs is good.... Tax increases....just the opposite should be happening....a 10% consumption tax ....is the only way to go.... Social security....where is the money for this ? ................................................................ I like Obama because he is self made....and I really believe he can be one of the US's best Presidents....In that a President serves as a "talking catalyst"....At talking....He is THE BEST.... IF HE WOULD DELIVER THE 10% CONSUMPTION ONLY TAX.... Obama needs to make some changes in the "tax structure".... And needs to dramatically reduce the size of government....not increase it....
I tend to agree. It was the Bush performance that handed the Dems the Presidency on a platter. Not necessarily Obama, but it would be one of the Dems. Jindal was weak in his presentation and rebuttal. The GOP is digging itself a deeper hole and after Bush, it's already deep enough. If they don't get their act together it's going to be Dem Dynasty - unless an independent party can challenge effectively.
The guy looked like a freaking Cartoon character! He looked like one of those actors on Saturday Night Live doing some kind of skit. Let's face it, the Republican Party is in shambles. They have absolutely NO leadership . . . And a lot of the things that Jindal highlighted ( in a most convoluted way ) made him look like a hypocrite.
True. But I think that South America left out the one of the BIGGER crooks in this bank heist . . . Phil Gramm.
Agreed 100%. In fact, I thought that it was an excellent speech and addressed the people of this Country in a "fireside" chat manner as opposed to soley addressing Congress. It was well done, and well played.
State of the Union addresses aren't suppose to offer anything concrete. If you thought this was subdued, I'd hate to think what you thought about Obama's acceptance speech from Hyde Park. Now that was subdued.