Beech Tree News Network

Normally I listen to the State of the Union address. The address gives the president an opportunity to outline his national priorities. And, last week, President Obama gave his address.
Early into the speech the president made some positive statements. He said: “It is you, our citizens, who make the state of our union strong. And here are the results of your efforts: The lowest unemployment rate in over five years. A rebounding housing market. A manufacturing sector that's adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world — the first time that's happened in nearly 20 years. Our deficits — cut by more than half. And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world's number one place to invest; America is. That's why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America. After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth” (http://news.msn.com/us/text-of-obamas-state-of-the-union-address).
Obama challenged legislators and the nation to make progress together, making this a year of action. Some of the areas he mentioned included:
•    Ending incentives to ship jobs overseas, and lowering tax rates for businesses that create jobs at home.
•    Continuing to move toward safe energy independence.
•    Fixing our broken immigration system.
•    Training Americans with the skills employers need and matching them to good jobs.
•    Reforming unemployment insurance so that it's more effective.
•    Preparing tomorrow's workforce by guaranteeing access to world-class education.
•    Giving women equal pay for equal work.
•    Asking Congress to lift the minimum wage to $10.10.
•    Creating a new way (MyRA, a savings bond) for Americans to start a retirement savings.
•    Remaining vigilant, but giving diplomacy a chance to succeed.
•    Providing veterans the benefits they've earned.
Jim Kuhnhenn (Associated Press) described the State of the Union agenda as “largely unchanged from…a year ago, but one that nevertheless fits neatly into this year's economic opportunity theme…. (Obama) will stress success through executive actions, though their reach would be far more modest than what he could achieve through legislation” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/state-of-the-union-speech-2014_...). Although Obama is beginning his sixth year as president, Congress can be difficult to move. Ronald Reagan once said, “I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.”
Last week, the president concluded the State of the Union address by saying, “…God bless the United States of America.” Although God has allowed our nation to remain strong, we need His blessings. After all, progress involves risk.