The More Americans Demand Change, The More The State Of The Union Address Stays The Same

[cal04]

http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/library/pressrelease.php?ID=51

America's Middle Class Think Tank Finds Speech Driven By "Protect-The-Privileged" Ideologies, Not A Genuine Attempt To Aid Average Americans in Faltering Economy



In his final State of the Union, President Bush failed the middle class again. So concluded the Nation's leading middle class think tank, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI), in its annual "instant analysis" of the speech. Despite an economy teetering on recession, DMI found the President chose to pursue ideologically-driven pet projects rather than proven methods of stimulating the economy. In a time when virtually all the presidential candidates, regardless of party affiliation, have embraced "change" as a central campaign theme, the President's 2008 State of the Union exhibited little philosophical deviation from past speeches.

The President's speech contained some praise-worthy components, such as its support for the Energy Independence and Security Act, sound immigration reform, and supporting military families. Unfortunately, the speech was dominated by an adherence to failed policies, such as "trickle down" approaches to improving the economy.

"Making tax cuts for the rich permanent will not help average Americans. Supporting a half-measure stimulus package will not help families survive this economy with their homes and jobs intact. Serious, precisely-targeted public policy proposals are needed to re-stabilized America's middle class. Although tonight's speech acknowledged that average Americans are suffering, it went no further in addressing the problems they face," said Andrea Batista Schlesinger, DMI's Executive Director.

With the President's years of dangerously flawed policies drawing to a close, future leaders will determine whether his distorted worldview lives on to our nation's detriment. That's why the President's 2008 State of the Union merits serious consideration: it will either provide a blueprint for the country's continuing slide backwards, or a demarcation away from policies that have irreparably harmed America's middle class.


http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/pdfs/SOTU%2008%20PDF.pdf