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One citizen's take on the State of the Union
One American's take on the State of the Union in 2008
Date published: 1/25/2008
MR. PRESIDENT, Monday night you will address the American people on the State of the Union.
While the Democrats will respond after the fact, I, being fairly certain what you will tell us, will give you my rebuttal ahead of time.
Mr. President,
You are going to tell us that we are winning the war on terror and will undoubtedly point to the fact that recent reports indicate that 75 percent of Baghdad is now secure.
What you will not tell us is that 100 percent of Baghdad was secure until America arrived with bombs blasting in air in March 2003.
You also will not tell us that since your last State of the Union address, we still have found no weapons of mass destruction in that country--which was your premise for war.
You, sir, will also ignore the fact that the American presence in Iraq has caused so much instability there that it has allowed al-Qaida and other anti-West extremist groups to use that country as a training ground.
And you will not remind us that the war you declared won in one month is now poised to enter its seventh year with almost 4,000 Americans dead and some 30,000 wounded.
Mr. President,
On the home front you will declare that although the financial world is hitting a bump in the road, our economy is basically strong, that the jobless rate is at an acceptable level and that there are no inflation worries.
What you will not say is that while energy prices have skyrocketed, wages have remained almost flat and many companies and government agencies have implemented hiring freezes.
Nor will you stress the fact that it is almost impossible to sell a house, that many homeowners are faced with ballooning mortgage payments and that foreclosures are at record levels in some areas.
And you will no doubt ignore the fact that many consumers are as deep in credit-card debt as the federal government's budget is unbalanced.
Yes, you will tell us that you are proposing an economic stimulus package that could send a government check for $300 or more to every taxpayer.
Date published: 1/25/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Nice one, Free-Slant Star!
(posted by
fireball
, Feb. 2, 2008 11:07 am)
Mr Johnston: you're entitled to your views. However, I respectfully suggest you maybe consider getting an assessment of Iraq from a non-biased observer (that means NO ONE from the AP, UPI, CNN, NYT, NBC, CBS, ABC, DailyKos. MoveOn.org, etc.) that have been able to observe events over there all along, or go there yourself. I either have, or know people who have. As for everything else you blathered about, where was the FLS with an attempt at balance from a commentator with a differing view?
Put Blame where due
(posted by
wolverine1
, Feb. 1, 2008 1:43 pm)
Donnie, I can agree with you on some points, but I think you are wrong on others. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to debt. Se spend more than we make and expect the government to bail us out when we are in trouble and of course they usually do. We cause our credit card debt, not the government. We pay too much for housing, in this area the price of homes have been inflated because we inflate them. Bush cannot be blamed for our ignorance!!
Here It Comes
(posted by
rrwwsmith
, Jan. 31, 2008 11:24 am)
During the last 2 years of Eisenhower's term the
Debt-to GDP Ratio fell a few percent. In Nixon-Ford
Administrations and in Carter's it also fell a few
percent. But in Kennedy-LBJ period it fell 15 %. In
Reagan-Bush1 the ratio rose 30%. In Clinton's it
fell 10%. In George W. Bush's sad Administration
the ratio has risen 11%. $430 Billion in 2007
interest paid on debt may not be much to you, but
to most of us that is a LOT of money. Now what
other Ratio have you got to tell us how frugal those
Repubs. are?
not sure about that
(posted by
AUTiger2000
, Jan. 31, 2008 7:30 am)
There are underlaying factors such as Reagan outspending USSR to win the Cold War when Carter didn't have the balls to do it. Bush1, a different story. Ford, Nixon, & Eisenhower all lowered it. I think they were GOP. Keep it coming Mr. Smith, what's next?
Debt as a % of GDP for AUTiger2000
(posted by
rrwwsmith
, Jan. 30, 2008 7:33 pm)
At the end of Bill Clinton's second term it was just
under 58%. For 2008 it will be just over 69%, an
all time high over the last 50 years. Generally in
this 50 year period, 1958-2008, it rises under
Republican Presidents and falls during Democratic
Administrations. Surprised are you?
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