DUH!

I could not watch the state of the union speech by the occupant of the white house. I knew this was an impossibility for me a few days before the speech. I wrote what I thought the speech would cover; reviewing news reports of the speech, I learn that I was correct in my assumptions.

One news report said it all: “fact checking website crashes during SOTU.” The report went on to say at the time of the crash, 70% of the speech’s claims were false, misleading or exaggerated.

That’s what I expected would be the case. So I skipped the speech.

Instead we watched House Hunters and Home Town on HGTV. At least those programs demonstrate the American Dream and how to get it. The SOTU was the exact opposite.

So, the question has to be asked: why did others watch the SOTU? Because they wanted to be assured that their isolated thinking chamber was intact. I’m sure they got comfort from the speech. It was for them so they would remain supporters of the speech maker. And he needed the comfort to hear the words of praise he lives on. True or not, the words mean something to him, a propagandist and bully.

The latter point refers to the wedge-making he does between political opponents and parties; and it also refers to the military build-up he pines for to show he is tough on defense. The military-industrial complex just loves these words, too! It means many dollars for them and their shareholders.

Republican house and senate leaders loved the speech as well. They are comfortable with the status quo because it gives them maneuvering power in spending national dollars their way. Do not miss the point of all this: republicans aim to outspend the government’s resources so that social programs are not affordable and can be cut from the budget. Period. That’s the tactic they have adopted to move the government’s role from big to small.

There is a problem with that: deficits to be endured in the meanwhile. The congressional spending spree is aiming for a $ 1 trillion deficit; it could go as high as $ 1.5 trillion before the fiscal year is closed. And that does not count the proposals for both infrastructure and defense program increases.

Infrastructure is a high priority. It is an investment in the American people and its economic system. The infrastructure is crumbling and in need of expansion and modernization. Alone, it could gobble up $ 1 trillion. But then, that could be financed over time with bonded indebtedness. And repaid from improved efficiency and productivity of the economy. Defense increases are not the same in utility as infrastructure attention.

Something to think about. Is universal healthcare worth more than missiles? Is educating our people less important than bridges and sewer systems? Perhaps these are not easy choices to make. But ignored long enough the dynamics change and question the decision makers wisdom.

They have failed us. Time will demonstrate the consequences. They will not be pretty. DUH!

February 1, 2018