I have done this a few times over the years but it ends up being a massive twitter thread. It is always interesting to read the actual transcript and respond as oppose to watching it live and being irritated by the constant and often inappropriate applause. Remember I am by trade a Facilities Manager and a trained Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditiooning service technician, the comments are those of a regular person and not a Political Scientist, a lawyer, or a politician.
This should be the first in a planned series of six articles the exact timeing of wich is still to be determined as only the first three are complete. Sometimes for a writer and an opinion writer especially life just gets in the way.
This is a public domain document copy pasted for rebuttal purposes on March 12, 2022 (Source)
My responses will be in bold in-line with original text as needed.
State Of The Union Address delivered by President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. 46th President of the United States of America on March 2, 2022 CE
Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President, our First Lady and Second Gentleman. Members of Congress and the Cabinet. Justices of the Supreme Court. My fellow Americans.
Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again.
One could wonder if it were actually needed to have been apart but the statement is a nice opening gesture.
Tonight, we meet as Democrats Republicans and Independents. But most importantly as Americans.
I would differ here and say “Republicrats” but that’s because to me they are so close on so many issues as to not really be different parties.
With a duty to one another to the American people to the Constitution.
And with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.
Okay, here is where about 33% of U.S. citizens will differ as they feel the last two years have been an exercise in tyranny via lock-downs, mask mandates, vaccination mandates, etc.
Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the foundations of the free world thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated.
Did he? He obviously underestimated the resolve of the Ukrainian people, but did he underestimate how Europe and the United States would react? Do not underestimate the Ukrainian people. Do not think Mr. Vladimir Putin has not considered every action and reaction, to underestimate him is a huge mistake.
He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead he met a wall of strength he never imagined.
He met the Ukrainian people.
Again do not underestimate the Ukrainian people, they have seen war, and famines both natural and man made, they are tough, resourceful, and know there battle field.
From President Zelensky to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determination, inspires the world.
Groups of citizens blocking tanks with their bodies. Everyone from students to retirees teachers turned soldiers defending their homeland.
In this struggle as President Zelenskyy said in his speech to the European Parliament “Light will win over darkness.” The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States is here tonight.
Let each of us here tonight in this Chamber send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world.
Please rise if you are able and show that, Yes, we the United States of America stand with the Ukrainian people.
Seriously? Any Congress Critter not standing up would be shunned and they know it so this was a just for show request. Points for being a good ring-master though.
Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression they cause more chaos.
And yet governments all around the world keep turning a blind eye to them. As a nation how many dictators has the United States help install? How many innocent civilians in those often third world nations have died at the hands of those dictators? How many innocent leaders have we as a nation assassinated to install a new regime?
They keep moving.
And the costs and the threats to America and the world keep rising.
A note: There is no nation of America. I believe he is referring to the United States of America, but is he really? There are 35 Nations within the American continent. Yes I am aware that “America” is a colloquialism for the United States, but it is also a pet peeve of mine that drives me nutty!
That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2.
So, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance? Seriously who wrote that for him? It really should have been “This is why the NATO alliance was...” His speech writer is lacking—I know this criticism from me of all people.
The United States is a member along with 29 other nations.
“’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world—So far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it—for let me not be understood as capable of patronising infidility to existing engagements. (I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy). I repeat it therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.”
—President George Washington 1st President of the United States of America (Source for quote)
It matters. American diplomacy matters. American resolve matters.
Putin’s latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and unprovoked.
Is it rude to say “Duh!” here?
He rejected repeated efforts at diplomacy.
He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And he thought he could divide us at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready. Here is what we did.
Were we? Seriously, were we?
We prepared extensively and carefully.
We spent months building a coalition of other freedom-loving nations from Europe and the Americas to Asia and Africa to confront Putin.
I must have missed a memo somewhere because I learned about it fairly fast. Then again I avoid most “news” programs, so entirely possible I did miss just how long the build up has been taking place.
I spent countless hours unifying our European allies. We shared with the world in advance what we knew Putin was planning and precisely how he would try to falsely justify his aggression.
No argument here as I can neither confirm nor deny what he is saying so let’s run with it as stated.
We countered Russia’s lies with truth.
Well our version of it anyway—slightly tongue in cheek but your milage will vary.
And now that he has acted the free world is holding him accountable.
Well at least the financial section of the “free world”
Along with twenty-seven members of the European Union including France, Germany, Italy, as well as countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and many others, even Switzerland.
We are inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine. Putin is now isolated from the world more than ever.
Has anyone considered that may have been his intention all along? There are many reasons a leader could choose to isolate themselves and their nation from the world.
Together with our allies –we are right now enforcing powerful economic sanctions.
We are cutting off Russia’s largest banks from the international financial system.
Preventing Russia’s central bank from defending the Russian Ruble making Putin’s $630 Billion “war fund” worthless.
Did it really have much value outside of Russia to start with?
We are choking off Russia’s access to technology that will sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come.
The Soviet Union did pretty good at advancing it’s military while being mostly cut off. The USSR’s space program did incredible work without transistors. Russia sits on most of the worlds rare earth minerals and strategic metals. I really doubt we are weakening the Russian army but what about everyone else's?
Tonight I say to the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime no more.
The U.S. Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs.
We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts your luxury apartments your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.
Wait, were their actions illegal in Russia, or elsewhere? If they were not illegal in Russia are we setting a bad precedent for our own people in the future? What if Russia decided that Bill Gates operated an illegal monopoly under Russian law, could the Russian government then seize all of Mr. Gates outstanding assets within their and their allies grasp? What about our Congress Critters who do insider trading that is technically illegal within our own borders? Beware setting bad international precedents.
And tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights – further isolating Russia – and adding an additional squeeze –on their economy. The Ruble has lost 30% of its value.
The Russian stock market has lost 40% of its value and trading remains suspended. Russia’s economy is reeling and Putin alone is to blame.
The Ruble has lost 30% compared to outside trading but get this, inside Russia a Ruble is still a Ruble—anyone care to know how much the U.S. dollar has lost in the last two years? Compared to the Gold as the benchmark the U.S. dollar has dropped 22%, no that is not as fast a drop but still it has dropped. (Source of bullion rates)
Together with our allies we are providing support to the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom. Military assistance. Economic assistance. Humanitarian assistance.
We are giving more than $1 Billion in direct assistance to Ukraine.
The current U.S. national debt is $23,300,000,000,000 that is $23.3 trillion dollars we do not have. Thats $70,324.36 of debt for every living person in the United States right now. So if we could get the Congress Critters to stay within the nations income and not spend ANY more and every man, woman, and child, just kicked in $729 a month we could pay off the national debt in just ten years!
Now where did that $1,000,000,000 comes from?
And we will continue to aid the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and to help ease their suffering.
So...food, water, ammo? Military intelligence? Medicine? This is kind of an open ended statement that on the whole feels good but what is the substance?
Let me be clear, our forces are not engaged and will not engage in conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine.
Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO Allies – in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west.
For that purpose we’ve mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, and ship deployments to protect NATO countries including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
As I have made crystal clear the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of territory of NATO countries with the full force of our collective power.
Let me be clear, if you think prepping the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries is important you are correct, but we are getting into semantics here as we absolutely WOULD be fighting Russia. We may not be in Ukraine WHEN it happens but in the end we WILL be fighting Russia.
“President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (May 26, 2020) endorsed Russia’s nuclear deterrent policy, which allows him to use atomic weapons in response to a conventional strike targeting the nation’s critical government and military infrastructure.” (Source)
As you can see by the above quote, it wouldn’t take much to enter a nuclear hot war with Russia, and in nuclear war no-one wins.
And we remain clear-eyed. The Ukrainians are fighting back with pure courage. But the next few days weeks, months, will be hard on them.
Putin has unleashed violence and chaos. But while he may make gains on the battlefield – he will pay a continuing high price over the long run.
As will we for fuel (Russia is the number three producer of crude oil), stainless steel, rechargeable batteries, corn (Ukraine is the number five producer), wheat (Russia is the number three producer)
And a proud Ukrainian people, who have known 30 years of independence, have repeatedly shown that they will not tolerate anyone who tries to take their country backwards.
To all Americans, I will be honest with you, as I’ve always promised. A Russian dictator, invading a foreign country, has costs around the world.
And I’m taking robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at Russia’s economy. And I will use every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers.
Let’s consider that Mr. Putin has stepped down before in a transition of power. He was voted into office by the Russian people in 2018 with 76% of the vote, so we must assume he is liked by the Russian people—I am well aware of how election “irregularities” keep some people in office long after they shouldn’t be—he has also stated he will not seek reelection in 2024—time will tell.
Tonight, I can announce that the United States has worked with 30 other countries to release 60 Million barrels of oil from reserves around the world.
America will lead that effort, releasing 30 Million barrels from our own Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And we stand ready to do more if necessary, unified with our allies.
30 million barrels is about 36 hours of usage in the United States.
These steps will help blunt gas prices here at home. And I know the news about what’s happening can seem alarming.
How’s that working out?
But I want you to know that we are going to be okay.
Sure...worked out great in 1973 too, and President Biden should know as he was in the Senate at the time.
When the history of this era is written Putin’s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.
How did that work with the U.S.S.R.? Oh yes, the other super power and well equipped nuclear power in world politics and they weren’t exactly buying things on the open market then either.
While it shouldn’t have taken something so terrible for people around the world to see what’s at stake now everyone sees it clearly.
We see the unity among leaders of nations and a more unified Europe a more unified West. And we see unity among the people who are gathering in cities in large crowds around the world even in Russia to demonstrate their support for Ukraine.
In the battle between democracy and autocracy, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security.
A Note: the United States is not a Democracy but a Constitutional Republic. Democracy at it’s simplest definition is “mob Rule.”
This is a real test. It’s going to take time. So let us continue to draw inspiration from the iron will of the Ukrainian people.
To our fellow Ukrainian Americans who forge a deep bond that connects our two nations we stand with you.
Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people.
He will never extinguish their love of freedom. He will never weaken the resolve of the free world.
“Victory belongs to the most persevering.”
― Napoleon Bonaparte
We have yet to see who that is, but the Vietcong did a pretty good job.
We meet tonight in an America that has lived through two of the hardest years this nation has ever faced.
The pandemic has been punishing.
Semantics I know, but the “pandemic” has not been “punishing”, quasi dictators in national capitols around the world and in many states have been “punishing”. Scientists that were inconsistent with their messaging fueled those issues. But covid is a virus, that we now know was created via gain of function experimentation, authorized by our own government.
And so many families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep up with the rising cost of food, gas, housing, and so much more.
I understand.
Do you Mr. President? You were first elected to Federal office in 1972, at a pay of $42,500 adjusted for inflation that’s $288,467 today, so again Mr. President do you really?
I remember when my Dad had to leave our home in Scranton, Pennsylvania to find work. I grew up in a family where if the price of food went up, you felt it.
That’s why one of the first things I did as President was fight to pass the American Rescue Plan.
Because people were hurting. We needed to act, and we did.
Few pieces of legislation have done more in a critical moment in our history to lift us out of crisis.
Am I the only person who knows absolutely no one who benefited from this plan?
It fueled our efforts to vaccinate the nation and combat COVID-19. It delivered immediate economic relief for tens of millions of Americans.
Let’s assume 30 million for a number—since an actual number is not given—that would be 10% of the U.S. population so chances are no one really knows anyone who benefited.
Helped put food on their table, keep a roof over their heads, and cut the cost of health insurance.
Again maybe for a few and I really have some major doubts on the health insurance issue.
And as my Dad used to say, it gave people a little breathing room.
And unlike the $2 Trillion tax cut passed in the previous administration that benefited the top 1% of Americans, the American Rescue Plan helped working people—and left no one behind.
Okay, let’s be gracious and say 27% of the population benefited from this (that’s 90,000,000 people by the way) That’s a lot of people left behind so this claim is blatantly false.
And it worked. It created jobs. Lots of jobs.
I would argue it didn’t but who knows who is feeding him the stats and statistics can be bent however you want them to be. Numbers don’t lie, but statistics can.
“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how.”
—Joseph Stalin
In fact—our economy created over 6.5 Million new jobs just last year, more jobs created in one year than ever before in the history of America.
Created or people went back to work and thus off of unemployment? Remember that quote above?
Our economy grew at a rate of 5.7% last year, the strongest growth in nearly 40 years, the first step in bringing fundamental change to an economy that hasn’t worked for the working people of this nation for too long.
Once again, nope. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis “according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 2.3 percent.”
For the past 40 years we were told that if we gave tax breaks to those at the very top, the benefits would trickle down to everyone else.
But that trickle-down theory led to weaker economic growth, lower wages, bigger deficits, and the widest gap between those at the top and everyone else in nearly a century.
I won’t argue this as I agree
Vice President Harris and I ran for office with a new economic vision for America.
Invest in America. Educate Americans. Grow the workforce. Build the economy from the bottom up and the middle out, not from the top down.
Because we know that when the middle class grows, the poor have a ladder up and the wealthy do very well.
I think a lot of people and economists will get into big arguments on this one. To me the rich get richer because they can afford to take risks. This is typically not so for lower classes.
America used to have the best roads, bridges, and airports on Earth.
Really? Did he ever travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the ‘70s? Maybe we did under Eisenhower but in my lifetime the only decent highways are in Missouri—I’ve traveled by car in 19 different states.
Now our infrastructure is ranked 13th in the world.
Who’s ranking? Who is ahead of us?
We won’t be able to compete for the jobs of the 21st Century if we don’t fix that.
Jobs in the 21st century will be one of two types: telecommute, or local service industries. We are a mature economy so we have left manufacturing and are now a consumer economy.
That’s why it was so important to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—the most sweeping investment to rebuild America in history.
This was a bipartisan effort, and I want to thank the members of both parties who worked to make it happen.
We’re done talking about infrastructure weeks.
We’re going to have an infrastructure decade.
It is going to transform America and put us on a path to win the economic competition of the 21st Century that we face with the rest of the world—particularly with China.
As I’ve told Xi Jinping, it is never a good bet to bet against the American people.
We’ll create good jobs for millions of Americans, modernizing roads, airports, ports, and waterways all across America.
And we’ll do it all to withstand the devastating effects of the climate crisis and promote environmental justice.
Ah ha! I wondered when we would catch “environmental justice and climate change!” None of those things will solve either issue.
We’ll build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations, begin to replace poisonous lead pipes—so every child—and every American—has clean water to drink at home and at school, provide affordable high-speed internet for every American—urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities.
Why is the federal government building charging stations? Why not the local power companies?
Begin replacing lead pipes?? Shouldn’t that have started when lead paint was banned and when lead based solder was banned? Seems a bit late but better late than never?
4,000 projects have already been announced.
And tonight, I’m announcing that this year we will start fixing over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair.
There are 46,876 miles of Interstate in the U.S. according to the Federal Highway Administration. So where are the other 18,124 miles of highway? The Moon maybe?
When we use taxpayer dollars to rebuild America – we are going to Buy American: buy American products to support American jobs.
The federal government spends about $600 Billion a year to keep the country safe and secure.
I’m pretty sure he is including the Pentagon’s budget here, but honestly it should be however it skews the numbers vastly but he may be shorting this number.
There’s been a law on the books for almost a century to make sure taxpayers’ dollars support American jobs and businesses.
Every Administration says they’ll do it, but we are actually doing it.
We will buy American to make sure everything from the deck of an aircraft carrier to the steel on highway guardrails are made in America.
All military projects are by default U.S. supplied by law and all contractors know this.
But to compete for the best jobs of the future, we also need to level the playing field with China and other competitors.
That’s why it is so important to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act sitting in Congress that will make record investments in emerging technologies and American manufacturing.
Let me give you one example of why it’s so important to pass it.
If you travel 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, you’ll find 1,000 empty acres of land.
It won’t look like much, but if you stop and look closely, you’ll see a “Field of dreams,” the ground on which America’s future will be built.
This is where Intel, the American company that helped build Silicon Valley, is going to build its $20 billion semiconductor “mega site”.
Up to eight state-of-the-art factories in one place. 10,000 new good-paying jobs.
Some of the most sophisticated manufacturing in the world to make computer chips the size of a fingertip that power the world and our everyday lives.
Smartphones. The Internet. Technology we have yet to invent.
Now how many of those jobs will be H1B visa holders because the world teaches computer programming as a second language in school and the U.S. system does not.
But that’s just the beginning.
Intel’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger, who is here tonight, told me they are ready to increase their investment from
$20 billion to $100 billion.
That would be one of the biggest investments in manufacturing in American history.
And all they’re waiting for is for you to pass this bill.
Is this another case of we have to pass it to know what is in it? How much is this going to cost us? Be honest Mr. President, how much is the U.S. taxpayer on the hook for? How much more will this effect our budget deficit?
So let’s not wait any longer. Send it to my desk. I’ll sign it.
Nope, let’s read it all first.
And we will really take off.
And Intel is not alone.
There’s something happening in America.
Just look around and you’ll see an amazing story.
The rebirth of the pride that comes from stamping products “Made In America.” The revitalization of American manufacturing.
Companies are choosing to build new factories here, when just a few years ago, they would have built them overseas.
Because overseas labor rates are growing, and it costs too much to ship things that far, and manufactures are tired of the just in time inventory system.
That’s what is happening. Ford is investing $11 billion to build electric vehicles, creating 11,000 jobs across the country.
GM is making the largest investment in its history—$7 billion to build electric vehicles, creating 4,000 jobs in Michigan.
All told, we created 369,000 new manufacturing jobs in America just last year.
I know it’s politician speak but no “we” did not create jobs, companies who decided to invest created jobs—pet peeve government officials do not create anything but regulations and headaches.
Powered by people I’ve met like JoJo Burgess, from generations of union steelworkers from Pittsburgh, who’s here with us tonight.
As Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown says, “It’s time to bury the label “Rust Belt.”
Name dropping a favorite political tactic, if you can put a name and a face to a problem it gets more notice—same thing on social media a post with a picture gets more attention.
It’s time.
But with all the bright spots in our economy, record job growth and higher wages, too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills.
Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel.
I get it. That’s why my top priority is getting prices under control.
Red Alert Danger Danger! Price control is a bad thing!
Look, our economy roared back faster than most predicted, but the pandemic meant that businesses had a hard time hiring enough workers to keep up production in their factories.
The pandemic also disrupted global supply chains.
Again, no the pandemic did not disrupt global supply chains. Petty bureaucrats and elected officials around the world did that. How many ships were/are trapped at sea because they were forbidden dock time to offload cargo? What are the chances that a ship at sea for over three weeks carried a virus? If we were at two week lock-downs why were crews forbidden to dock?
When factories close, it takes longer to make goods and get them from the warehouse to the store, and prices go up.
Correction: when factories close no goods get made therefore no goods go to the warehouse or store. Point of fact very few things actually get warehoused anymore. It is cheaper to sort orders directly into a truck or train and have the product in motion than it is to stack it up somewhere.
Look at cars.
Last year, there weren’t enough semiconductors to make all the cars that people wanted to buy.
And guess what, prices of automobiles went up.
Basic economics, I have it, you want it, what will you pay me for it?
So—we have a choice.
One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer.
I have a better plan to fight inflation.
Lower your costs, not your wages.
Make more cars and semiconductors in America.
More infrastructure and innovation in America.
More goods moving faster and cheaper in America.
More jobs where you can earn a good living in America.
And instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it in America.
Economists call it “increasing the productive capacity of our economy.”
I call it building a better America.
The federal minimum wage in 1972 was $1.60 per hour. Today you need $10.86 per hour to have the same buying power. So not quite the $15 an hour most crave but unless those new jobs are paying more than my local McDonald’s ($14 an hour) they don’t matter.
My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit.
17 Nobel laureates in economics say my plan will ease long-term inflationary pressures. Top business leaders and most Americans support my plan. And here’s the plan:
I am reminded of a line at the end of “raiders of the Lost Ark” “We have top men working on it.” My question is the same as Henry Jones Jr. PhD. “Who?”
First – cut the cost of prescription drugs. Just look at insulin. One in ten Americans has diabetes. In Virginia, I met a 13-year-old boy named Joshua Davis. He and his Dad both have Type 1 diabetes, which means they need insulin every day. Insulin costs about $10 a vial to make.
But drug companies charge families like Joshua and his Dad up to 30 times more. I spoke with Joshua’s mom.
Imagine what it’s like to look at your child who needs insulin and have no idea how you’re going to pay for it.
What it does to your dignity, your ability to look your child in the eye, to be the parent you expect to be.
Joshua is here with us tonight. Yesterday was his birthday. Happy birthday, buddy.
For Joshua, and for the 200,000 other young people with Type 1 diabetes, let’s cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month so everyone can afford it.
Now I understand healthcare after working in it for 25 years and I get prescription prices are evil, but does the cap mean they just don’t get anymore money (price control) or is the government eating the difference?
Drug companies will still do very well. And while we’re at it let Medicare negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, like the VA already does.
Honestly he has a point here
Look, the American Rescue Plan is helping millions of families on Affordable Care Act plans save $2,400 a year on their health care premiums. Let’s close the coverage gap and make those savings permanent.
Second – cut energy costs for families an average of $500 a year by combating climate change.
Let’s provide investments and tax credits to weatherize your homes and businesses to be energy efficient and you get a tax credit; double America’s clean energy production in solar, wind, and so much more; lower the price of electric vehicles, saving you another $80 a month because you’ll never have to pay at the gas pump again.
Point here, unless you can deduct dollar for dollar the cost of permanently weatherizing your home this is a feel good statement. Many are mislead into thinking they can deduct costs but can’t because it didn’t hit the right income bracket to matter or because you were too poor to even file.
Never pay at the pump sounds great, but remember electricity costs money too and though you may not “pump” electricity into a car it has to be charged, and charging stations also cost money. Even a home charger just moves your car’s fuel to your electric bill. In many states they are now considering a per mile driven tax billed annually to offset the lost fuel tax revenue.
Third – cut the cost of child care. Many families pay up to $14,000 a year for child care per child.
So is he purposing rolling back the minimum wage? At $7.25 an hour the average child care worker earns $15,080 a year. Most states limit how many children each worker can care for so a wage gets rolled back, or the number of children per worker gets increased, or we are again seeing a price control proposal.
Middle-class and working families shouldn’t have to pay more than 7% of their income for care of young children.
7%! When my kids were little most of my spouses entire paycheck went to childcare but they got good insurance.
My plan will cut the cost in half for most families and help parents, including millions of women, who left the workforce during the pandemic because they couldn’t afford child care, to be able to get back to work.
I left the workforce to care for my grand child, now I am having trouble finding a job because I left the workforce, are we going to deal with that issue too?
My plan doesn’t stop there. It also includes home and long-term care. More affordable housing. And Pre-K for every 3- and 4-year-old.
All of these will lower costs.
And under my plan, nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in new taxes. Nobody.
Sounds familiar...”Read my lips, no new taxes!” How did that work out again? Besides who needs new taxes when you can raise old taxes?
The one thing all Americans agree on is that the tax system is not fair. We have to fix it.
I’m not looking to punish anyone. But let’s make sure corporations and the wealthiest Americans start paying their fair share.
Just last year, 55 Fortune 500 corporations earned $40 billion in profits and paid zero dollars in federal income tax.
That’s simply not fair. That’s why I’ve proposed a 15% minimum tax rate for corporations.
Okay, me and Mr. Biden are on the same page here (upcoming article—stay tuned!)
We got more than 130 countries to agree on a global minimum tax rate so companies can’t get out of paying their taxes at home by shipping jobs and factories overseas.
That’s why I’ve proposed closing loopholes so the very wealthy don’t pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or a firefighter.
Technically they don’t, the issue is in earned income versus investment income. It’s a tricky subject but basically the wealthy don’t earn anything, their investments do and those are taxed at a lower rate.
So that’s my plan. It will grow the economy and lower costs for families.
Not sure of your takeaway but seems to be lacking on a lot of key details. Basically to me “What plan?! I didn’t see a plan!”
So what are we waiting for? Let’s get this done. And while you’re at it, confirm my nominees to the Federal Reserve, which plays a critical role in fighting inflation.
Better yet audit the federal reserve and put us back on the gold standard or even copper, or silver. Make our money worth something again.
My plan will not only lower costs to give families a fair shot, it will lower the deficit.
The previous Administration not only ballooned the deficit with tax cuts for the very wealthy and corporations, it undermined the watchdogs whose job was to keep pandemic relief funds from being wasted.
But in my administration, the watchdogs have been welcomed back.
We’re going after the criminals who stole billions in relief money meant for small businesses and millions of Americans.
And tonight, I’m announcing that the Justice Department will name a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud.
By the end of this year, the deficit will be down to less than half what it was before I took office.
And here I was thinking Mr. Biden was a bit stodgy and he goes and tells a joke! There is no way the deficit gets cut in half. The deficit has been running away since Reagan and shows no sign of stopping.
The only president ever to cut the deficit by more than one trillion dollars in a single year.
Lowering your costs also means demanding more competition.
I’m a capitalist, but capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism.
Once again we agree, as without competition it’s a monopoly.
It’s exploitation—and it drives up prices.
When corporations don’t have to compete, their profits go up, your prices go up, and small businesses and family farmers and ranchers go under.
We see it happening with ocean carriers moving goods in and out of America.
During the pandemic, these foreign-owned companies raised prices by as much as 1,000% and made record profits.
Tonight, I’m announcing a crackdown on these companies overcharging American businesses and consumers.
And as Wall Street firms take over more nursing homes, quality in those homes has gone down and costs have gone up.
That ends on my watch.
Medicare is going to set higher standards for nursing homes and make sure your loved ones get the care they deserve and expect.
Are they going to increase the number of inspectors too? Regulation on the industry is a good thing but like most regulatory agencies you have to have an adequate number of inspectors to do the job.
We’ll also cut costs and keep the economy going strong by giving workers a fair shot, provide more training and apprenticeships, hire them based on their skills not degrees.
Great news! Now how does that affect those of us over 50 who keep hitting that “degree required” stumbling block?
Let’s pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and paid leave.
Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and extend the Child Tax Credit, so no one has to raise a family in poverty.
Let’s increase Pell Grants and increase our historic support of HBCUs, and invest in what Jill—our First Lady who teaches full-time—calls America’s best-kept secret: community colleges.
And let’s pass the PRO Act when a majority of workers want to form a union—they shouldn’t be stopped.
Honestly, I had no idea this was a problem.
When we invest in our workers, when we build the economy from the bottom up and the middle out together, we can do something we haven’t done in a long time: build a better America.
For more than two years, COVID-19 has impacted every decision in our lives and the life of the nation.
Covid is a virus. Covid is a barely animate piece of RNA. Covid did nothing. The impact in our lives was not covid but from measures instituted by elected officials and unelected bureaucrats, but none of that was done by covid as it was just a reason/excuse to do so.
And I know you’re tired, frustrated, and exhausted.
But I also know this.
Because of the progress we’ve made, because of your resilience and the tools we have, tonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines.
We’ve reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19, with severe cases down to a level not seen since last July.
Just a few days ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—the CDC—issued new mask guidelines.
Under these new guidelines, most Americans in most of the country can now be mask free.
And based on the projections, more of the country will reach that point across the next couple of weeks.
Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.
Again Covid did not control “our” lives the choices and mis-choices of officials did.
I know some are talking about “living with COVID-19”. Tonight – I say that we will never just accept living with COVID-19.
We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will stay on guard.
Here are four common sense steps as we move forward safely.
First, stay protected with vaccines and treatments. We know how incredibly effective vaccines are. If you’re vaccinated and boosted you have the highest degree of protection.
Read everything, think for yourself, do not follow blindly, be informed, ask “why did the FDA want to wait 75 years to release the data?”
We will never give up on vaccinating more Americans. Now, I know parents with kids under 5 are eager to see a vaccine authorized for their children.
The scientists are working hard to get that done and we’ll be ready with plenty of vaccines when they do.
We’re also ready with anti-viral treatments. If you get COVID-19, the Pfizer pill reduces your chances of ending up in the hospital by 90%.
We’ve ordered more of these pills than anyone in the world. And Pfizer is working overtime to get us 1 Million pills this month and more than double that next month.
And we’re launching the “Test to Treat” initiative so people can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they’re positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.
Makes sense
If you’re immunocompromised or have some other vulnerability, we have treatments and free high-quality masks.
We’re leaving no one behind or ignoring anyone’s needs as we move forward.
Except for those people who can not take the vaccine for medical, personal, or religious reasons. Many companies now will not hire someone who is not “fully vaxed” and if you work in health-care good-luck keeping or finding a job. Not to mention trying to weaponize OSHA against the U.S. workers.
And on testing, we have made hundreds of millions of tests available for you to order for free.
Even if you already ordered free tests tonight, I am announcing that you can order more from covidtests.gov starting next week.
Second – we must prepare for new variants. Over the past year, we’ve gotten much better at detecting new variants.
If necessary, we’ll be able to deploy new vaccines within 100 days instead of many more months or years.
And, if Congress provides the funds we need, we’ll have new stockpiles of tests, masks, and pills ready if needed.
I cannot promise a new variant won’t come. But I can promise you we’ll do everything within our power to be ready if it does.
The federal government has a bad history of not being prepared when it should be.
Third – we can end the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we need.
It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again. People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to the office.
We’re doing that here in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person.
Our schools are open. Let’s keep it that way. Our kids need to be in school.
And with 75% of adult Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77%, most Americans can remove their masks, return to work, stay in the classroom, and move forward safely.
We achieved this because we provided free vaccines, treatments, tests, and masks.
Of course, continuing this costs money.
Of course it will! More money we don’t have!
I will soon send Congress a request.
The vast majority of Americans have used these tools and may want to again, so I expect Congress to pass it quickly.
Fourth, we will continue vaccinating the world.
We’ve sent 475 Million vaccine doses to 112 countries, more than any other nation.
And we won’t stop.
We have lost so much to COVID-19. Time with one another. And worst of all, so much loss of life.
Again we did not lose anything to a virus but to the actions of the government.
Let’s use this moment to reset. Let’s stop looking at COVID-19 as a partisan dividing line and see it for what it is: A God-awful disease.
Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies, and start seeing each other for who we really are: Fellow Americans.
We can’t change how divided we’ve been. But we can change how we move forward—on COVID-19 and other issues we must face together.
I recently visited the New York City Police Department days after the funerals of Officer Wilbert Mora and his partner, Officer Jason Rivera.
They were responding to a 9-1-1 call when a man shot and killed them with a stolen gun.
Officer Mora was 27 years old.
Officer Rivera was 22.
Both Dominican Americans who’d grown up on the same streets they later chose to patrol as police officers.
I spoke with their families and told them that we are forever in debt for their sacrifice, and we will carry on their mission to restore the trust and safety every community deserves.
I’ve worked on these issues a long time.
I know what works: Investing in crime prevention and community police officers who’ll walk the beat, who’ll know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety.
There is a huge difference between a law enforcement officer (LEO) and a cop walking a beat. An LEO in their cruiser can’t see the little things, the nuances that create a neighbor hood. To the neighborhood the LEO is just a car that drives around and occasionally jumps out and shouts. A beat cop knows the neighbors. They know that the Doe family has issues. They know that small kid on the corner is deaf. They know the small subtleties that keep their actions from escalating into a death, and they know when a strange face is in a neighbor hood allowing them a chance to introduce themselves and if that person was nefarious they know they’ve been seen. There are reasons up into the 1970s people didn’t lock their doors but do now.
So let’s not abandon our streets. Or choose between safety and equal justice.
Let’s come together to protect our communities, restore trust, and hold law enforcement accountable.
That’s why the Justice Department required body cameras, banned chokeholds, and restricted no-knock warrants for its officers.
Sadly these same actions have not been implemented across the nation as of yet.
That’s why the American Rescue Plan provided $350 Billion that cities, states, and counties can use to hire more police and invest in proven strategies like community violence interruption—trusted messengers breaking the cycle of violence and trauma and giving young people hope.
We should all agree: The answer is not to Defund the police. The answer is to FUND the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.
But is sure as Hell would be a giant leap forward to demilitarize the police.
I ask Democrats and Republicans alike: Pass my budget and keep our neighborhoods safe.
It is not within the purview or scope of the federal government to be funding or weaponizing our local police force. Eventually this will bite us as we already have a Supreme Court Decision saying that because the Federal government funds Medicaid/Medicare they could in fact place vaccination requirements on people who work in health-care facilities. Now let’s expand that to LEOs and you suddenly have a militarized federal police force—this can only lead to a dark dystopian future.
And I will keep doing everything in my power to crack down on gun trafficking and ghost guns you can buy online and make at home—they have no serial numbers and can’t be traced.
Here we have blatent misinformation without actually saying anything wrong. Serial numbers are not stored in the U.S. there is no data base of who owns which serial numbered gun. Serial numbers are strictly for manufacturers warrenties. The term "ghost gun" was created to make home assembled firearms seem scary as if the serial number is a magic talismin that will suddenly prevent a bad person from doing something bad. On top of this is the fact that most homemade firearms in the U.S. only ever see a riffle range and typically built because someone just wants to.
And I ask Congress to pass proven measures to reduce gun violence. Pass universal background checks. Why should anyone on a terrorist list be able to purchase a weapon?
Another scare point. Technically we already have universal background checks unless it from one person to another. Any Federal Firearms dealer has to do a background check.
Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Why don't we just say "scary looking" or "I don't understand these weird parts so they must be bad"? There is no actual definition of an assault weapon. Again a scary made up term for something that is statistically not an issue. A better use of resources would be to dump the Alcohol Tabbaco and Fiearms budget into mental healthcare. Most of the mass shootings that get blamed on "assault weapons" have been committed by persons who were turned in or were known to have mental issues.
Let's clean up our Mental Healthcare first.
Repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the only industry in America that can’t be sued.
He's on a roll with false information! This one is so false it made CNN!
"Gun manufacturers are not entirely exempt from being sued, nor are they only industry with some liability protections."
These laws don’t infringe on the Second Amendment. They save lives.
Many Lawyers will argue "yes they do infringe", and no they don't.
The most fundamental right in America is the right to vote – and to have it counted. And it’s under assault.
In state after state, new laws have been passed, not only to suppress the vote, but to subvert entire elections.
We cannot let this happen.
Tonight. I call on the Senate to: Pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. And while you’re at it, pass the Disclose Act so Americans can know who is funding our elections.
Technically this is beyond the Constitutional scope of the Federal Government as voting is an internal issue for the states.
Tonight, I’d like to honor someone who has dedicated his life to serve this country: Justice Stephen Breyer—an Army veteran, Constitutional scholar, and retiring Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Justice Breyer, thank you for your service.
One of the most serious constitutional responsibilities a President has is nominating someone to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
And I did that 4 days ago, when I nominated Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. One of our nation’s top legal minds, who will continue Justice Breyer’s legacy of excellence.
A former top litigator in private practice. A former federal public defender. And from a family of public school educators and police officers. A consensus builder. Since she’s been nominated, she’s received a broad range of support—from the Fraternal Order of Police to former judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans.
And if we are to advance liberty and justice, we need to secure the Border and fix the immigration system.
We can do both. At our border, we’ve installed new technology like cutting-edge scanners to better detect drug smuggling.
The plants and smugglers are still winning the drug war.
We’ve set up joint patrols with Mexico and Guatemala to catch more human traffickers.
We’re putting in place dedicated immigration judges so families fleeing persecution and violence can have their cases heard faster.
We’re securing commitments and supporting partners in South and Central America to host more refugees and secure their own borders.
We can do all this while keeping lit the torch of liberty that has led generations of immigrants to this land—my forefathers and so many of yours.
At the current rate we will soon have the same level of liberty as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. We need to all wake up to just how many liberties we have lost since Franklin Rosevelt and how many more we are quickly losing.
Provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those on temporary status, farm workers, and essential workers.
Okay, Mr. Biden holds a law degree, but has held elected positions since 1970 so maybe he's a bit rusty. We do have a known, legal, path to citizenship in place already. Is it as rough and full of pot-holes as an Illinios highway? Yes. Does it need work? No, it needs scrapped and replaced.
Revise our laws so businesses have the workers they need and families don’t wait decades to reunite.
Point of contention, we could instead spend the money to train local workers to do the jobs and not have this issue. H1B visas are great but we need to look at our out of work youth issues and our homelessness issues before we bring in more people just because we failed to educate our own.
It’s not only the right thing to do—it’s the economically smart thing to do.
It is more ecomnomically smart to use those that are already here. Maybe convince companies to do skills testing as opposed to requiring degrees to be hired.
That’s why immigration reform is supported by everyone from labor unions to religious leaders to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Everyone" tends to be a bit grandious of a statement as it is usually quite difficult to even reach a consensus let alone a unanamous decision on anything. I woould reckon that if this was put before the U.S. population the results would be very different than what Mr. Biden believes.
Let’s get it done once and for all.
Advancing liberty and justice also requires protecting the rights of women.
The constitutional right affirmed in Roe v. Wade—standing precedent for half a century—is under attack as never before.
As someone who was born before the Roe decision I see no increase in how it is being attacked. Actually I have not personally heard of clincs being bombed in probably 30 years. No recent sniper issues of providers at their homes or offices either. So sorry Joe, the rehtoric may be hotter, the passage of laws that will hit the Sumpreme Court has increased, but over all it is about the same as it has always been, and just to remind everyone the decision wasn't handed down until January 22, 1973 so 49 years ago--again he is a lawyer and laws are very persnikity little things.
If we want to go forward—not backward—we must protect access to health care. Preserve a woman’s right to choose. And let’s continue to advance maternal health care in America.
And for our LGBTQ+ Americans, let’s finally get the bipartisan Equality Act to my desk. The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong.
Hey! We agree here!
As I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your President, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.
I concur with Mr. Biden here. Sadly much like women's rights the rights of gender non-conforming and trans gendered persons are under near constant attack from left, right, and center. Bathroom, locker-room, fitting-room, laws are a patchwork from acceptance and accomodating to down right bigoted both across the U.S. and around the world. We could blame macho culture, we could blame religons, but when it comes down to it cis gendered persons both streight and homosexual are to blame for the hate and crimes committed against trans youth and trans adults. It is time for the U.S. to lead the world in being accepting.
While it often appears that we never agree, that isn’t true. I signed 80 bipartisan bills into law last year. From preventing government shutdowns to protecting Asian-Americans from still-too-common hate crimes to reforming military justice.
And soon, we’ll strengthen the Violence Against Women Act that I first wrote three decades ago. It is important for us to show the nation that we can come together and do big things.
So tonight I’m offering a Unity Agenda for the Nation. Four big things we can do together.
First, beat the opioid epidemic.
There is so much we can do. Increase funding for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery.
Get rid of outdated rules that stop doctors from prescribing treatments. And stop the flow of illicit drugs by working with state and local law enforcement to go after traffickers.
If you’re suffering from addiction, know you are not alone. I believe in recovery, and I celebrate the 23 million Americans in recovery.
We need to amend our laws to allow for sentencing to rehab instead of prison. We have plenty of prisons that could be converted to rehab units so instead of the adult version of time out these people get the quality care they need to clean up. The mental care they probably needed that drove them to drugs in the first place, and teach them a skill that they can use when they are released.
Second, let’s take on mental health. Especially among our children, whose lives and education have been turned upside down.
The American Rescue Plan gave schools money to hire teachers and help students make up for lost learning.
I urge every parent to make sure your school does just that. And we can all play a part—sign up to be a tutor or a mentor.
Children were also struggling before the pandemic. Bullying, violence, trauma, and the harms of social media.
As Frances Haugen, who is here with us tonight, has shown, we must hold social media platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit.
It’s time to strengthen privacy protections, ban targeted advertising to children, demand tech companies stop collecting personal data on our children.
And let’s get all Americans the mental health services they need. More people they can turn to for help, and full parity between physical and mental health care.
I agree with most all of this, but to end school bullying we need ALL teachers on duty all day. So when all the students are on the playground all the teachers are too. The teachers need to understand though that they aren't to just be standing around gossiping but actually paying attention to the children. If not teachers then we need dedicated adult recesss monitors. Maybe enlist some retired people to watch recess. The big issue from when I was a kid and when my children were young has not changed--lack of supervision. If a child is a bully we need to route him to a social worker or psycologist and not wait until they end up in front of a school resource officer.
Third, support our veterans.
Veterans are the best of us.
I’ve always believed that we have a sacred obligation to equip all those we send to war and care for them and their families when they come home.
Or don't come home.
My administration is providing assistance with job training and housing, and now helping lower-income veterans get VA care debt-free.
Our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan faced many dangers.
One was stationed at bases and breathing in toxic smoke from “burn pits” that incinerated wastes of war—medical and hazard material, jet fuel, and more.
When they came home, many of the world’s fittest and best trained warriors were never the same.
Headaches. Numbness. Dizziness.
A cancer that would put them in a flag-draped coffin.
I know.
One of those soldiers was my son Major Beau Biden.
We don’t know for sure if a burn pit was the cause of his brain cancer, or the diseases of so many of our troops.
But I’m committed to finding out everything we can.
Committed to military families like Danielle Robinson from Ohio.
The widow of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson.
He was born a soldier. Army National Guard. Combat medic in Kosovo and Iraq.
Stationed near Baghdad, just yards from burn pits the size of football fields.
Heath’s widow Danielle is here with us tonight. They loved going to Ohio State football games. He loved building Legos with their daughter.
But cancer from prolonged exposure to burn pits ravaged Heath’s lungs and body.
Danielle says Heath was a fighter to the very end.
He didn’t know how to stop fighting, and neither did she.
Through her pain she found purpose to demand we do better.
Tonight, Danielle—we are.
The VA is pioneering new ways of linking toxic exposures to diseases, already helping more veterans get benefits.
And tonight, I’m announcing we’re expanding eligibility to veterans suffering from nine respiratory cancers.
I’m also calling on Congress: pass a law to make sure veterans devastated by toxic exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they deserve.
It is a sad statement that we have to get a president who lost a combat veteren son to finally say enough is enough. I have held my son as he died and it was the most gut wrenching, mind torquing thing I have ever done. I was lucky, he came back. So many live with the pain of knowing that their children will never be back. They live everyday with the emptiness and devistation of what a moment in time can bring.
And fourth, let’s end cancer as we know it.
This is personal to me and Jill, to Kamala, and to so many of you.
Cancer is the #2 cause of death in America–second only to heart disease.
Last month, I announced our plan to supercharge
the Cancer Moonshot that President Obama asked me to lead six years ago.
Our goal is to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years, turn more cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases.
More support for patients and families.
To get there, I call on Congress to fund ARPA-H, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
It’s based on DARPA—the Defense Department project that led to the Internet, GPS, and so much more.
ARPA-H will have a singular purpose—to drive breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and more.
A unity agenda for the nation.
We can do this.
My fellow Americans—tonight , we have gathered in a sacred space—the citadel of our democracy.
In this Capitol, generation after generation, Americans have debated great questions amid great strife, and have done great things.
We have fought for freedom, expanded liberty, defeated totalitarianism and terror.
And built the strongest, freest, and most prosperous nation the world has ever known.
Now is the hour.
Our moment of responsibility.
Our test of resolve and conscience, of history itself.
It is in this moment that our character is formed. Our purpose is found. Our future is forged.
Well I know this nation.
We will meet the test.
To protect freedom and liberty, to expand fairness and opportunity.
We will save democracy.
As hard as these times have been, I am more optimistic about America today than I have been my whole life.
Because I see the future that is within our grasp.
Because I know there is simply nothing beyond our capacity.
We are the only nation on Earth that has always turned every crisis we have faced into an opportunity.
The only nation that can be defined by a single word: possibilities.
So on this night, in our 245th year as a nation, I have come to report on the State of the Union.
And my report is this: the State of the Union is strong—because you, the American people, are strong.
We are stronger today than we were a year ago.
And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.
Now is our moment to meet and overcome the challenges of our time.
And we will, as one people.
One America.
The United States of America.
May God bless you all. May God protect our troops.
