Posted by Walter Scott Hudson on 01/28/10 10:27 AM Last updated 01/28/10 07:47 AM   [Newer: Municipal Welfare Debated in Minnesota] [Older: Left Wing Poll Indicates Democratic Base Helped Brown]

Skimming the State of the Union address from last night, these tidbits stood out:

This recession has also compounded the burdens that America's families have been dealing with for decades, the burden of working harder and longer for less, of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.

...

For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don't understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded, but hard work on Main Street isn't, or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems.

Actually, many people are angry because they do understand why Wall Street gets bailed out while Main Street is bowled over. Many people are angry because they do understand why they work harder and longer for less. Many people have woken up to the hidden tax of inflation perpetuated by the Federal Reserve System and enabled by Congress. Many people are wise to the good cop / bad cop routine bankers and politicians have played with the purchasing power of their dollar. Many people get that printing fiat currency ad infinitum and racking up the national debt is unsustainable and tantamount to a regressive tax against the poor and middle class. Many people understand, as President Ronald Reagan famously said, "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."

Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our nation's goods, services and information.

Fortunately, many people understand such job-creation is illusory. Who is left to cover the cost of maintenance once these projects are complete? Where will these jobs go after completion? By touting this "accomplishment," President Obama counts on people not differentiating production from subsidization and not understanding the fact they pay for the Recovery Act with the reduced purchasing power of their dollar.

[Healthcare] is a complex issue. And the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering, "What's in it for me?"

This is an amazingly arrogant sentiment. Obama here presumes the only reason people are skeptical of his proposed health care reform is because they do not understand it. Aside from demeaning the intellectual capacity of the electorate, Obama's presumption precludes the possibility people do understand his proposed reform and simply disagree with it on principle. Equally disturbing is his implication Americans only care "what's in it for them," precluding the possibility people are concerned how expanding their own entitlement might result in effects beyond today and themselves. Does it not stand to reason, if Americans were truly fixated on narrow self interest, they would overwhelmingly support their own entitlement? Does it not stand to reason opposition to such entitlement reflects concern over long-term sustainability?

Put another way, Obama's sentiment might read, "I know it's hard for you folks to comprehend, but I'm trying to take care of you." Such an attitude is unbecoming a public servant. The burden is not on President Obama to explain his plan, and on We the People to listen, but on him to listen to us.

Originally posted at Fightin Words.

Posted 01/28/10 10:34 AM American Epirus Omaha, NE

Fantastic, Walter; thanks for posting at C4L!

Posted 01/28/10 10:42 AM C00kieM0nster Oxnard, CA

This is the same thing we heard from Dianne "Frankenstein" right before TARP passed. Sadly, many still feel that it all lies within the scope of governance.

Posted 01/28/10 11:48 AM ajkather Bettendorf, IA

Excellent post. The two words that best describe my President are "arrogant" and "narcissistic". It's this Woodrow Wilson/FDR-like persona that just is totally unbearable.

Posted 01/28/10 11:54 AM MarilyninLakeJackson Lake Jackson, TX

Yes, this article is good. While trying to watch the President's speech, I felt like one of the little ant-size peons he was looking down on, wanting to scream up at him at his lofty place,"Yes, we do understand much more than you give us credit for. We don't want you 'taking care of us', so get over yourself and leave us alone."

Posted 01/28/10 12:17 PM Willij4lib Monroe, WA

It should have been more like this: I am so educated I do not have to have listening skills as this is not part of my training program. It is also unnecessary to resolve any issues because my whole role in life is to preach things I myself do not understand, therefore I make a fool of myself by opening my mouth expelling ideas that has no proof nor verification. This in itself should present the case that I have used all of you for my own self interest. (But yet I am proud). I also do not own a mirror or look at myself and ask why this is working so poorly. Why ask questions when you are of my stature? Why breathe air if you do not do anything constructive with it?

Posted 01/28/10 12:56 PM BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

It's about time that the members of Congress represent the people. If they did and when they do the liars and the schemers will be confronted on the spot! Now it is obvious that Congress and the Supreme Court has been emasculated by the unConstitutional coup!

Posted 01/28/10 1:24 PM LizLiz Brooklyn, NY

These are great pieces to analyze from his speech - but what stuck out to me the most was "these Americans..." "the americans..." etc. Perhaps this is trivial, but as someone who has spent ample time in school studying the English language and rhetorical devices, I feel as if this is him subconsciously advertising just how DETACHED and ALIEN Obama really is from 'these Americans' or 'those Americans' and 'the Americans.' What about "My fellow Americans" or some other similar meaning text... For example: "I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people" My version: "I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to my fellow citizens" (to you) (to everyone) etc "Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground..." I'd say 'Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where WE will..." But notice how he shows possession of commodities: "...create jobs and help move OUR nation's goods, services and information." And finally, the one that got bells going off in my head: "For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don't understand why it seems like bad behavior" Why didn't he say: "For us, change has not come fast enough. Some of us are frustrated; some of us are angry. (We)Many of us don't understand why it seems like bad behavior..." Because.. in conclusion: He is not one of us. He is not of the people. He is part of the elite pushing an agenda upon us that we want no part in. So he separates himself from 'the people' and reminds us of how dumb we are and how smart he is. He may coat his words well and think carefully when presenting his rhetoric - but basic errors still remain in place. Sure, we are taught never to use "I" or "you" in an essay, but when you are presenting something to a group - you might want to use words such as 'we' and 'you' and 'us' etc to create a feeling of equality - to say "we're in this together.' Obama may want to take a lesson from Sir James Jeans. I could go much deeper into this textual analysis - and maybe people would read it... but I think I will vomit In fact.. I'm going to repost this on my cfl blog because maybe I will expand upon it - and I don't want it to get lost in the riff raff of comments.

Posted 01/28/10 1:30 PM JimMN Eden Prairie, MN

Jimmy Kimmel summarized the whole State of the Union nicely between his jokes... "If the President is a Democrat, the Democrats cheer for everything he says, and if the President is a Republican, they cheer for everything the Republican says..." "It's the same thing every year. Neither one of these parties cares as much about the country as they care about being the one who gets to run the country. It's a big waste of time..." http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9685384 (skip to time 1:45 for the above lines) If the late night comedians (ignoring hopeless morons like Letterman) know what's going on and can point it out during their monologue, maybe it won't be long before the rest of the country figures it out.

Posted 01/28/10 1:46 PM ConservativeSouthern Nokesville, VA

Did anyone else think the President's speech was just filled with arrogance? First he tells the people that he will continue with healthcare no matter what. He then attacks republicans by saying they shouldn't vote just to block his policies (which they don't). Finally, he tells the Supreme Court that if he doesn't agree with them he'll just override their decision with an executive order!! I hope the Supreme Court reacts to this fast.

Posted 01/28/10 4:52 PM WillBee Linden, NJ

"I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people." Excuse me, but according to my schooling, there are 3 branches of government. Executive, Legislative and Judicial. What the hell is Obama doing telling us how good this healthcare bill is when it's CONGRESS writing the bill? And not to mention that the language of the bill changes on a daily basis. So pretty much anything Obama says is outdated a day later.

Posted 01/28/10 8:13 PM Willij4lib Monroe, WA

Willbee, I used my secret decoder ring to show what he really said, let me restate: It really went like this: I am so educated I do not have to have listening skills as this is not part of my training program. It is also unnecessary to resolve any issues because my whole role in life is to preach things I myself do not understand, therefore I make a fool of myself by opening my mouth expelling ideas that has no proof nor verification. This in itself should present the case that I have used all of you for my own self interest. (But yet I am proud). I also do not own a mirror or look at myself and ask why this is working so poorly. Why ask questions when you are of my stature? my response: Why breathe air if you do not do anything constructive with it?

Posted 01/28/10 11:26 PM Doug.Bach Wheaton, IL

great post, thanks for sharing your thoughts.