Tomorrow night the president will stride into the House chamber to deliver a challenging State of the Union speech, which could easily be dead on arrival or so soft-peddled it goes flat. But what if you were to deliver the speech – what would be your main talking points? Let’s create the citizen state of the union speech!
I ask this because I’m wondering what people really want to hear – that is, how people want to be engaged? It’s clear that people want less rancor and partisanship in public life and politics; it’s also quite clear that there are tough issues before us.
Honest to God, the recent rhetoric around “let’s all get along” turns my stomach. It’s the polar opposite of the silly bravado and testosterone-driven shenanigans we’ve seen for all-too-long. Now, instead, we run the risk of false passivity, a kind of wolf in lamb’s clothing that will rise up to bite us all in the rear just when we’ve been told change was in the offing.
I’ve labeled this false hope in other venues! Sounds about right, but I don’t believe it has to be this way.
I heard this morning on NPR a political commentator suggest that we could gauge the meaningfulness of the president’s speech tomorrow night by whether congressional members on both sides of the aisle stand up and applaud for the same lines, or whether only one side stands to give their undying support. I had been thinking of the same notion this morning when I woke up. But then I thought better of it – utter hogwash!
I don’t care if the pols decide to stand up at the same time, so they can try to make themselves look good for the TV cameras and the voters at home. Oftentimes they look downright silly when they gregariously slap each other on the back and clap with unmitigated enthusiasm for someone they viciously attacked the day before. What I want to know is if they can reach some common ground on core challenges we must address.
So, for once, I wish the members of Congress would just sit there on their hands, not wiggling a bit, just listening attentively to the president. Let’s hear what he has to say; and let’s hear a real response from those who see things differently.
But, first, let’s hear from you. Please send in talking points for your State of the Union speech. Then let’s compare what you say with what we hear.
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Just now getting to my email and read this. Intriguing to challenge others to write their own State of the Union. Since it is just a few minutes before the State of the Union, I would only share that John Nichols has expressed much of my sentiments, as has Barrack Obama and John Edwards - both of whom I like because they are men of depth and quality who I believe are genuine. I think that is what we are so hungry for in America...leadership that is real and genuine in its sincerity, and who can rally us as a people and a nation to return to our American traditions, values, and beliefs...to solve the challenges confronting both our nation and our world.
The 2006 elections have given me hope after the despair of the years since 9/11. We should never forget the real intent, the fundamental purpose of a public education system that our forefathers envisioned was for the purpose of an educated citizenry that would never allow for a tyrant. I believe in our young generation, and in what they have seen, known, and experienced at a very critical time in their lives. I see their optimism combined with their concern.
We older adults have become soft in our citizenship, but I believe that many Americans are awake and beginning to realize just how close we have been teetering on the brink of losing all that we hold near and dear as Americans. It is within our character as Americans however, to regain our center and grow and become stronger...as a people and a nation.
Keep the faith. Stay engaged.
If I were to deliver a state of the union, it would look something like this:
As a nation, we need to actually define the “American Dream.” We seem to have lost site of it in recent generations but these are the values I remember growing up with. I would commit my administration to leading the nation to the following goals:
• We have a social compact with each other to make our country and the world a better place for those who come after us.
• Those of us blessed with more have a greater responsibility to provide for the common good.
• We have a social contract as citizens to help those less fortunate.
• We need to have respect for each other – even those we disagree with.
• Capitalism in excess amounts to greed and government is our only defense against the excess of capitalism running amuck.
• The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Efforts to weaken it, for any reason, should be strenuously resisted – even with our lives if necessary.
• We need to preserve the separation of church and state or we will be a short-lived democracy that may well follow the lead of so many other nations torn apart by sectarian violence and civil war (Northern Ireland; Lebanon; Israel/Palestine; Iraq; Iran; etc.). We forget at our own peril that this Constitutional separation was instituted to actual protect the freedom to worship.
What should every American be able to aspire to and what should every American expect as a minimally acceptable life? If we could agree on that, maybe we could shape our institutions to provide it? For example:
• Schools that succeed for all students. Students prepared to be effective citizens and ready to contribute to the betterment of society – in whatever way they choose.
• A health care system that everyone can access to keep them healthy.
• Adequate transportation – whether a car or effective mass transit.
• A home in which they can feel proud and safe.
• A political system in which everyone can feel proud and engaged.
• A news and information system that is readily accessible and, as a priority, contributes to the understanding of issues.
• A retirement system that guarantees that every worker may retire with all of the attributes of an acceptable life.
• A government at all levels that is responsive to citizen needs, is open to citizen input and accountable to the electorate.
• Jobs with a “living wage” for every citizen with access to education and training systems to ensure employability for everyone able to work.
If we had leaders who actually believed in these values and worked toward their implementation, America would again become the shining beacon for the rest of the world that it once was.
Thanks for the opportunity. I won’t hold my breath during the President’s state of the union tonight…
Restoration of hope requires a restoration of equity, for children, for families, for communities. Since our highest risk children clearly need the healthiest starts, every child and every community should be centered by an environmentally healthy day care center and school that are clean and in good repair, and that are community role models for environmentally responsible behavior
Claire L. Barnett, Executive Director
Healthy Schools Network, Inc.
Coordinator, Coalition for Healthier Schools
Two talking points for the agenda:
Explicitly define "protecting our interests" in Iraq. To what extent does it, or does it not, encompass continued, high-scale access to cheap oil and corporate profit? Future regional diplomatic negotiations could focus on carbon policies to counteract global warming and coastal flooding worldwide (especially important for all the coastal Muslim nations), providing benchmarks and a timeline for our troop commitments in the Middle East.
Carbon footprint tax credits (for green burials, community energy conservation, etc.).
Bethe
As we have come to know and understand Freedom is not Free.
-We should be gateful as a nation for the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.
What are our responsiblities as American Citizens in an ever changing world?
Technology has made the World smaller. We can communicate half way across the the World and back again.
-It is our! (yours and my) responsibility to teach tolerence for those who are different to the next generation. We must understand all cultures, faiths and other nation states only through cooperation will be able to endure as we have beenable to do for more than 200yrs domestically.