President Obama Delivers the 2012 State of the Union Address

I am a firm believer that young people need to be politically aware. Therefore I included the full "State of The Union Address" video because you did not catch it on TV. I know you were busy with school work. smile. Here I attempt to interpret what the President said in relation to how it affects Mobile YA's Young Adults but first I would like to address the question "What is The State of the Union?"

What is "The State of The Union"?
The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda (for which he needs the cooperation of Congress) and his national priorities.[1]The practice arises from a command given to the president in the Constitution of the United States:
“ He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
— Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution

Although the language of the Constitution is not specific, by tradition, the President makes this report annually in late January. While not required to deliver a speech, every president since Woodrow Wilson has made the State of the Union report as a speech delivered before a joint session of Congress. Before that time, most presidents delivered the State of the Union as a written report.
What began as a communication between president and Congress has become a communication between the president and the people of the United States.(Resource:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union_address)

UPDATE: Also check out these pictures:-White house 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157628633082149/show/



What does President Obama's State of the Union Address mean for Mobile YA's (Young Adults)?

The war is over. For the first time in nine years there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. Bin Laden is not a threat to the country. President Obama encourages Americans to focus on the mission at hand and work together so that everyone gets a fair shot, do their share and play by the same set of rules. If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires .On the other hand, people who make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, taxes shouldn't go up. He encourages everyone to keep and reclaim the American values. He wants to instill that: "hard work pays off".

"No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad
debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how
we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built
to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy,
skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values".

The President proposes that every state require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18. Congress needs to stop interest on student loans from doubling in July. He wants to give more young people a chance to earn their way through college by doubling work study jobs. If colleges and universities do not stop cost from going up then subsidy will go down. The President states that he wants to help smart students from other countries, who can add to the economy, stay in the country and encourages congress to create a bill to do that. President Obama challenges businesses to bring jobs to US and train workers. New jobs will be created in the industry of clean energy and natural gas. He will empower development on enough public land to power 3 million homes with clean energy. He will clear red tape for the construction industry so it can expand. Homeowners will have a chance to keep homes with low interest loans with less red tape.

"That's why I'm sending this Congress a plan that gives every
responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their
mortgage, by refinancing at historically low interest rates. No more
red tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the
largest financial institutions will ensure that it won't add to the
deficit, and will give banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance
to repay a deficit of trust."


General Motors is back on top as the Worlds Number One Auto Maker. The American Auto Industry is back. He challenges businesses to train 2 million Americans workers that will lead directly to a job. Give community colleges resources to train workers.

Direct Quote:

On college education and foreign students.

"When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of
college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than
credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on
student loans from doubling in July. Extend the tuition tax credit we
started that saves middle-class families thousands of dollars. And
give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by
doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.

Of course, it's not enough for us to increase student aid. We can't
just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we'll run out of money.
States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher
priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do
their part by working to keep costs down. Recently, I spoke with a
group of college presidents who've done just that. Some schools
re-design courses to help students finish more quickly. Some use
better technology. The point is, it's possible. So let me put
colleges and universities on notice: If you can't stop tuition from
going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher
education can't be a luxury – it's an economic imperative that every
family in America should be able to afford.

Let's also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented,
hardworking students in this country face another challenge: The fact
that they aren't yet American citizens. Many were brought here as
small children, are American through and through, yet they live every
day with the threat of deportation. Others came more recently, to
study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get
their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new
jobs somewhere else. That doesn't make sense. I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That's why my Administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That's why there are fewer illegal crossings
than when I took office.

The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on
comprehensive immigration reform right now. But if election-year
politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let's at
least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to
staff our labs, start new businesses, and defend this country. Send
me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will
sign it right away."

Top priority now: He wants to stop tax height on 160 million Americans while recovery is still fragile. The president wants to pass the "Payroll Tax Cut" without delay.

The President wants to open new markets for American products.

"Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago. He will appoint a special unit to investigate unfair business practices from foreign companies. I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. Tonight, I'm announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trade practices in countries like China. There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress should make
sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American
manufacturing when it comes to accessing finance or new markets like
Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the
playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win.And I will not stand by when our competitors don't play by the rules."


"We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly one
hundred years, and my Administration will take every possible action
to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more
than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And I'm requiring all
companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals
they use. America will develop this resource without putting the
health and safety of our citizens at risk."

Mobile Ya Interprets: Public dollars (government support) help get new energy products and innovations off the ground.We are the leaders in manufacturing chemical batteries as a result. He wants to strengthen Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security for elders. He wants the rich to pay more taxes without tax subsidies and discounts because if the rich do not pay their fair share without discounts it adds to the US deficit or someone else has to make up the differences. He states that is not right. He wants Congress to work together and on schedule. He wants to cut bureaucracy to make government leaner, more efficient and responsive to the American people. The President states the government should do for people only what they cannot do for themselves and no more. He will keep taking actions to help the economy grow. He states he can do more with our help. When we work together there is nothing we as an American people cannot achieve.

The President says our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. The President states he increased spending every year he has been in office for veterans because they deserve all their benefits. He encourages more job increase for veterans. The President proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget. To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, He has sent Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing danger of cyber-threats. He states if we work together and not be selfish then the State of the Union will always be strong.