Prologue
The last week has seen a needed increase in diaries focused upon the big picture agenda of our government elite. The agenda has no end point, no "goal" beyond increasing its own pace. Does anyone believe that there will come a point where Boehner, Cantor, Rove, Limbaugh and all will stand down and say "enough, these are the conditions we have sought." Hell, even if they do there is always an up and coming Cheney.
President Obama was elected on the premise that he, and his voters, would provide the hope required to change this agenda. He hasn't. Perhaps no one could succeed against this corporate controlled country, but damn, he hasn't even tried!. Nothing else has worked, he should start trying. His voice motivated millions six years ago to bring about what some thought impossible. He ought to try again, there is little to lose. He is running out of time.
Is a presidential address required to stop the current agenda? No, it is always possible that a modern day Martin Luther King could come forward. But, in the two hundred and some years since this nation was founded, it has produced exactly one King. Obama is no King, but he doesn't need to be, he is the president.
I am no speechwriter. I am sure the people in the white house are capable of writing more powerfully (and succinctly:>)) than I can. But, I can offer the "type" of speech an effort begins with, the type of action he really ought to try. And so, Mr. President, as we say in basketball, "if you're gonna go - go strong". You are also the nation's quarterback and a full blitz is on, you may as well go long, something like this.
The camera focuses on the President confidently but strangely solemnly approaching the podium from which he announced the success of the Bin Laden mission. He pauses almost uncomfortably long and stares focused at the camera.
Good Evening
My fellow Americans, our government is failing and, because of that failure, our country is failing.
This failure threatens the enduring, uniquely American, assumption that our children will inherit a future better than that of their parents. The failure is unacceptable and un-American. It must be stopped. If we do not stop it now, we risk losing the chance to ever do so.
I am part of that failure. For too long I have settled for meager measures, put compromise over principle and allowed this failure to continue, even accelerate. I have done so for nearly five of the eight years Americans have granted this office to me. What we tried may had noble intentions but has not worked. It is time to try something different.
I renew myself and pledge to add my voice to those of the vast majority of citizens, voices this government has failed to hear. A large majority of Americans continue to bear the pain of this failure. Tonight, I choose to push back and ask that you join me.
The United States has not failed to promote the prosperity of the most wealthy among us. The power of government has been directed solely to benefit the already wealthy to levels of prosperity never before seen, never before thought necessary. Some, not all, of the wealthiest among us will resist this change aggressively. This attempt will be mocked, the means we attempt will be decried as useless or even harmful. I am not naïve. However, I challenge any argument that the system, as is, is working for the majority of Americans.
Let me be perfectly clear. Ever increasing wealth is good. It is the natural goal of free market capitalism. I do not condemn efforts to gain wealth. But, aggressive political maneuvers that skirt the limits of legality and steal the economic opportunity of all but a chosen few IS wrong. Hijacking the government of all the citizens to benefit the few must stop. Tonight, I say it must stop.
Screen goes to digital diagram showing the exponential increase in wealth at the highest levels and the static or decreasing line of the average and the line of the lower third. A second screen shows the value of the biggest corporations rising aggressively, finally, a third screen shows the rise of the dow jones market.
. This graph represents the inevitable results of actions committed only to benefit the wealthy. This graph also tracks the domination of "trickle down" economic theory. A theory proven by history to fail the vast majority it is put upon. It has been endorsed by the government for too long. The wealthiest among us have been rewarded by a system that encourages even further pain, even less opportunity, and even more uncertainly for 90% of Americans. It has been pushed relentlessly for a generation. It must stop.
It begins now. Trickle down has failed. Trickle up, however, has been successful in the past. It set the stage for the greatest boom this world has ever seen in the post World War II economy. And yet, for too long its principles have been denied a chance to work in this era. Indeed, history shows that a rising tide does lifts all boats but only when the depths are pulled, top and bottom by great force. I intend to enlist that force.
From this point forward I will not sign any bill that provides further tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. Instead, I will look for ways to prohibit rules encouraging off shoring of wealth as a means to avoid taxation. "Only" the wealthy are benefited by these rules. As the graphs show, the wealthy have benefited tremendously from the work of this country. The portion of that wealth generated by the work of all, is due to be put back to work here, for every American without regard to their economic status.
I will not sign any bill that decreases government support for the poorest among us. I will however, look to increase the support of those whose very lives are threatened by economic conditions unwillingly imposed upon them. This support will not threaten the deficit. Money dedicated to the plight of the poor is used immediately to further stimulating the economy. Money invested in support, fosters growth from bottom, to the top.
The deficit is thus far more threatened by tax cuts for the rich than spending on the poor. There is, however, a more important distinction. The rich do not go homeless if they do not receive a tax cut. Without a tax cut, the rich and their children do not go without health care. rising anger and seriousness Lack of a tax cut does not cause the rich to go hungry in the wealthiest nation to ever exist on this earth.
In the coming weeks my administration will present Congress with legislation consistent with these priorities and consistent with the economic success achieved in this country's past. History shows that austerity works only for those that live the least austere lives, the wealthiest among us. The lessons of history, provide hope.
These actions will go against the current austere programs guiding us downward. These actions it will be issued by my administration under a title similar to one dear to me; "Changes with Hope"
Our system requires that the government work in cooperation to achieve such action. It cannot and should not be a result of orders from any one person. History shows that it can be done through the demands of the people. Tonight I call on Americans to take up the demand for change, the need for hope. Tonight I ask that Americans stand up to demand a future of economic prosperity for our children. Tonight I ask that Americans stand up for the value of their hard work. We can no longer settle for growth only at the top. I will not settle for a system working only for the top. The top is growing, has been growing, will continue to grow. The difference is, here, tonight, we commit to bringing all of Americans citizens along in that growth. The injustice of imposing the welfare of the rich to the detriment of society's base will no longer be tolerated, I will not be a part of it. I will only work toward building hope for all.
America's best moments have been when its people stand up to injustice and stand for hope. I choose to do so now. I urge all to make the same choice, because it is a choice, a choice that has been taken away for far too long. We must choose to make it possible again.
God bless all citizens of this great nation and God bless the "United" States of America.
Mr. President, something kinda sorta like that might, you know, be refreshing, hell - might even work, stranger things have happened. YOU got elected. The path the country is on sure as shit isn't. For godsake you are going to be eviscerated one way or another, it's not like what you've tried is cooking along, right? If you're going to get blitzed one way or another, for godsake, go long, try a "Hail Mary" - plenty of people are praying their asses off that you do. To mix our sports metaphors we began with, go long and go strong 'cause" damn we're being hacked and sacked here and so are you. Dare to be great Mr. President, I dare you.
Ha-ha. And now back to the last vestiges of democracy in this country, a place where voting matters, I'm going to watch American Idol reruns and pray.