Jan. 21, 2004 - 21:33 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Not Surprised

My opinions of the State of the Union speech.

I didn't time it but last nights State of the Union address seemed to have a longer applause time than acutual speech. It had aplenty, that's for sure. Of course who attended ? A captive claque of self-interested people.

I read the "State of the Union address at a glance," in our paper of January 21, 2004.

Iraq

Defended the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and claimed progress toward quelling the violent insurgency, with 45 of the former regime's top 55 officials captured or killed.

Reiterated the commitment to full sovereignty for Iraqis by the end of June.

War On Terrorism

Demanded that Congress renew the USA Patriot Act

Weapons of mass destruction

Cited Libya's decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction and encouraged other nations to follow suit.

Social Security

Pressed Congress to overhaul Social Security to allow workers to invest some of their payroll taxes in private retirement accounts.

Health Care

Proposed that people who buy catastrophic health care coverage as part of new health savings accounts be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their taxes

Urged Congress to set up refundable tax credits of up to $1,000 for individuals and $3,000 for families to help low-income workers to buy insurance.

Marriage

Repeated his belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and expressed support for a constitutional amendment, if necessary, to ban same-sex marriages.

Economy and Jobs

Urged Congress to make tax cuts permanent.

Proposed spending $250 million to fund partnerships between community colleges and employers in high-demand sectors.

Education

Proposed $100 million to help students with reading and $120 million to improve math education.

Sought to expand advanced-placement programs in low-income schools and urged professionals with math and science experience to become part-time high school teachers.

Religious based programs

Renewed his push for legislation to give religious groups more access to federal funds for social services.

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Point on Iraq. Who in the world expects sovereignty for Iraqi's to ever last after our last soldiers leave ? Kurds, two dimensions of Moslems all hating each other, how long will that last ?.

Point on War on terrorism. He demanded ? Demanded that Congress renew the Patriot Act. What utter gall. Restricted civil liberties for all for ever.

Point on� Weapons of mass destruction Libya is giving up weapons of mass destruction ? Just how much of that type of materiel does Libya have ? What threat are they under if they don't at least give lip service to that proposal ?

Point on Social Security. Pressed Congress to overhaul Social Security to allow workers to invest some of their payroll taxes in private retirement accounts. Yeah, right. And if these individuals make unwise investments are we taxpayers going to bail them out ? Even rich investors have bad days but have the wealth to weather that sort of thing, but what of a boo-boo by a low-income individual ?

Point on Health care Proposed that people who buy catastrophic health care coverage as part of new healh savings accounts be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their taxes. From what I have seen us low income people cannot possibly afford such things, so who gets home free ?

Urged Congress to set up refundable tax credits of up to $1,000 for individuals and $3,000 for families to help low-income workers buy health insurance. I don't think that will buy much in the way of health insurance at prices today and what about the low-income workers who pay no taxes because their income is too low ?

Point on Marriage Wants a constitutional amendment if necessary to ban same sex marriages ? Okay, maybe it would be fine if those heterosexual married folks have to do time in the clink for cheating on each other, and those who abuse their spouse or children. Let's get the whole blooming thing straightened out and then see where we stand. The men-women unions are not doing too well I think.

Point on Economy and jobs. He urged Congress to make tax cuts permanent. Uh huh, that ought to work, chuckle.

Proposed spending $250 million to fund partnersips between community colleges and employers in high-demand sectors. I can see too many faults in this to go too far into it. But the Government buying into our Community Colleges via the use of partnerships with employers ? Heh !

Education

Point on Education. Proposed $100 million to help students with reading and $120 million to improve math education. How the heck far does he expect that trickle to go ?

Sought to expand advanced-placement programs in low-income schools and urged professionals with math and science experience to become part-time school teachers. Man, I'd sure like to see that bit fleshed out and workable. Who'll pay the part time teachers ? The $100 million plus the $120 million wouldn't cover anything like that I think.

Point on Religious-based programs

Renewed his push for legislation to give religious groups more access to federal funds for social services. Whee, what a hellacious cat fight that would be. By the time every single religious denomination and belief gets their hands on government money, where will the rest of the kids, especially those of low-income families come in ? I think that it is possible for private institutions to overlook those kids and discriminate against them if forced to accept them. Separation between church and state SHOULD REIGN SUPREME ! Religious organizations do not pay taxes and some of them are in the money-making business too.

Too late tonight to do much editing, so I guess that it will have to be posted as is and edit tomorrow.

So, in essence it looks to me that he is trying to force Congress and we the people to accept what he wants.

Heh, his state of the Union speech, this guy is Not Surprised . . . . . . . . . .

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